Woman Threatened With $600 Daily Fine If She Doesn’t Stop Handing Out Food To Needy Children
Angela Prattis is determined not to stop giving meals to hungry Pennsylvania children even though township authorities threatened her with a daily $600 fine. Prattis did not obtain an ordinance variance which Chester township officials maintain she needs to conduct such charitable activities. The special permit carries a $1,000 price tag, according to The Blaze. The meals are donated through education department funds under the guidance of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Prattis began handing out meals to needy children after she moved to the Trainer, Pennsylvania area several years ago. She first distributed meals to underprivileged children at the Church of the Overcomer. After the birth of her second child, Angela Prattis began using the gazebo on her own property to feed approximately 60 needy area children during the summer months.
“I’m not stopping. These kids are hungry. I’m not tearing down the community. I’m keeping the children out of harm’s way,” Prattis stated during a Daily Times interview. “Last Friday, I had 20 children walk to my house in the pouring rain for lunch, and at 2 pm they came back for a snack. Tell me this program is not needed.”
Several weeks ago, Township Council Chairman Stanley Kester reportedly received a phone call from a resident notifying him about the food giveaway for needy children at the Prattis home. After conferring with the township solicitor, it was decided that local zoning laws did not allow such acts without an ordinance variance.
Angela Prattis believes she is not in violation of zoning laws because she is not cooking or selling food to others. The Pennsylvania woman, who is dedicated to carrying on the summer food supplement program for low-income children, also feels that, if an ordinance variance is needed, the fee should be waved for charitable activities.
Do agree that the fee should be waived so that Angela Prattis can continue handing out food to needy children?
