Health Dept. Clamps Down On Free Food For Homeless
Food Taken From Ministry, Given To Women's Shelter
POSTED: 4:29 pm CDT October 1,
2007
UPDATED: 7:20 pm CDT October 1,
2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Police and the Metro Health Department have become engaged in an argument with a gospel music artist who gives out meals to the homeless.
Video: Health Dept. Halts Homeless Feeding HelpFriends said Candy Hemphill Christmas is one of a kind. Many have said that she is an unusual woman with an unusual ministry that he feeds the homeless underneath the Jefferson Street Bridge.Every Tuesday night, Christmas can be found with her volunteers beneath the bridge, feeding hot meals to the homeless. But a few weeks ago, that changed when Metro police and the health department made them stop serving the food over safety concerns.Christmas is a third-generation Gospel singer who started The Bridge Ministry four years ago. She said she was baffled by the recent interference from the health department and police."Why now? That's a good question. We're not in a residential area. It's nothing like that,” said Christmas.Jerry Rowland of Food Protection Services at the Metro Health Department said he was only recently made aware of the ministry. He said food safety guidelines apply to individuals and groups. The health department said even if they are giving food away, there are rules that need to be followed.The night that the food wasn’t given to the homeless, there was another group that got the supposedly suspect food. Women at the local mission gobbled up all 400 hot chicken dinners the next day.To appease the Metro Health Department, the ministry has borrowed a mobile kitchen to satisfy any food safety concerns. They are planning to feed the homeless on Tuesday.Christmas' homeless friends said they are looking forward to another opportunity for a hot meal, and many said they love her because she brings food for the soul as well."We're trying to do good for our community and the homeless. I would think the city would come along and help us," said Christmas.This isn't the first time the homeless population has faced challenges from the city.Signs have warned tourists not to feed the homeless, and no trespassing signs aimed at containing the homeless have been posted as well.The Bridge Ministry hopes someone will donate a mobile kitchen to help them with their feeding program efforts. Related Link:
The Bridge Ministry
Video: Health Dept. Halts Homeless Feeding HelpFriends said Candy Hemphill Christmas is one of a kind. Many have said that she is an unusual woman with an unusual ministry that he feeds the homeless underneath the Jefferson Street Bridge.Every Tuesday night, Christmas can be found with her volunteers beneath the bridge, feeding hot meals to the homeless. But a few weeks ago, that changed when Metro police and the health department made them stop serving the food over safety concerns.Christmas is a third-generation Gospel singer who started The Bridge Ministry four years ago. She said she was baffled by the recent interference from the health department and police."Why now? That's a good question. We're not in a residential area. It's nothing like that,” said Christmas.Jerry Rowland of Food Protection Services at the Metro Health Department said he was only recently made aware of the ministry. He said food safety guidelines apply to individuals and groups. The health department said even if they are giving food away, there are rules that need to be followed.The night that the food wasn’t given to the homeless, there was another group that got the supposedly suspect food. Women at the local mission gobbled up all 400 hot chicken dinners the next day.To appease the Metro Health Department, the ministry has borrowed a mobile kitchen to satisfy any food safety concerns. They are planning to feed the homeless on Tuesday.Christmas' homeless friends said they are looking forward to another opportunity for a hot meal, and many said they love her because she brings food for the soul as well."We're trying to do good for our community and the homeless. I would think the city would come along and help us," said Christmas.This isn't the first time the homeless population has faced challenges from the city.Signs have warned tourists not to feed the homeless, and no trespassing signs aimed at containing the homeless have been posted as well.The Bridge Ministry hopes someone will donate a mobile kitchen to help them with their feeding program efforts. Related Link:The Bridge Ministry
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