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Woman Threatened With $600 Daily Fine If She Doesn’t Stop Handing Out Food To Needy Children

Posted: August 14, 2012
Woman Threatened With $600 Daily Fine If She Doesn’t Stop Handing Out Food To Needy Children

pennsylvania woman feeds low income 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?



Comments


7 Archived Responses to “ Woman Threatened With $600 Daily Fine If She Doesn’t Stop Handing Out Food To Needy Children ”

  1. April Dee
    Aug 14, 2012

    This is easy, times are hard and it there are people willing to help let them. why should it cost one thousand dollars to do a good deed.

  2. Anonymous
    Aug 14, 2012

    I would like to know what kind of a being calls the township because a person is giving food to needy children! You have to be some kind of f@cked up to cause a riot over that! Wow!

  3. Ashley Hunt
    Aug 15, 2012

    WILLIAM PISAREK,
    Chester Township business manager.
    1150 ENGLE STREET.
    CHESTER PA 19013.
    (610) 494-4149

    Stanley R. Kester
    Township Council Chairman.
    2417 Green St.
    Chester, PA 19013.
    (610) 494-0211

  4. Diana Hunt
    Aug 15, 2012

    Why, she's not "handing out food." She is giving lunch parties for kids! They are invited guests. The township should have no say in how often one can give parties, or whom one can invite… or whether the guests can take home leftovers. The ordinance is irrelevant in this case.

  5. Kim Deblois
    Aug 15, 2012

    What is America coming to? Are we seriously going to penalize someone for being willing to help others? There are so many bad things going on in the world today, we should be celebrating, not punishing the fact that there is still some good being done in this country..

  6. Loren Whelchel Jr
    Aug 16, 2012

    I want to know what is wrong with our government officials. It is her money her food and she has the RIGHT to do with it as she sees fit. She isn't harming anyone, in fact, she is helping the less fortunate.

  7. Stewart Boner
    Aug 16, 2012

    So you now have to pay to give things away?