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Lunch Lady Squashes Fine For Feeding Hungry Kids But Has New Battle Ahead (VIDEO)
Angela Prattis is a pretty amazing woman. Nicknamed the Lunch Lady, she has been handing out free lunches to children in need for the past three summers from a church in Pennsylvania. But this summer, after having a baby, she began handing out those lunches from her house. And this has the people who run her town, Chester Township, all up in arms.
In fact, it had them so outraged that they told her to shut it down ... and then threatened her with a fine of $600 a day if she kept it up. It was only when news organizations started poking around that the town backpedaled. They are allowing her to keep feeding the kids through the end of this summer but say she must secure a zoning variance if she wants to open up shop again next summer. The fee for the administrative costs for this variance: $1,000!
I get that her home is zoned as part of a residential neighborhood, and rules are rules, but there is something to be said for looking at circumstance. Is there a need for what she is doing? Does it bother her neighbors? Rather than shutting her down, are there alternatives that can be considered?
Her argument is a good one ... in the video below she talks about the fact that there are houses in her town where the roofs are falling in -- but they are cracking down on her. She is feeding up to 60 children a day. There is clearly a need -- in this town -- for this program. She doesn't make a dime from any of this -- the program is fully funded by the state and run through the Archdiocese of Philadelphia -- but her time is donated.
How would you feel if this was happening in your town?
Image via PatriotPost/YouTube
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GlowWorm889
I think it's great that she's feeding the kids, but zoning regulations are there for a reason. She broke them. And I don't see why she doesn't just bring her baby to the church and do it there. There isn't a huge need to serve them from her house. It's a preference that breaks laws. If her baby is sick, that's different, but the article didn't state a reason.
Gretta
jessicasmom1
we have a lunch program during the summer for low income individuals here were I live , they have their clarences, walmart supplies the food and we have happy kids around here . Sometimes lunch is the only meal children may get to eat . We dont know what goes on behind closed doors .
Andrea
PaganMomma40
You gotta love people who say "I don't believe it's my responsibilty". Instead of hindering what she's attempting to do...why can they not get together with her and try to come up with a solution. SMH.
trainlady2
I can understand her breaking the law if she were running a paying business where she was collecting money. But she is inviting people to her house to eat. Are we not allowed to have guests to our house for lunch? As for taking her baby to the church, she is smart not to do that and to keep it at home. In the church setting the baby will encounter thousands of germs, colds, flu, etc., At home the baby is inside and away from the general public and all the bad things that can happen to it. Its like people who take small babies to the Fair or something like that. They expose the child to God knows what. I can't understand what law this lady broke. She is inviting guests to her house. She is giving away the food. She is not causing a riot or any other problem. People have the right to peaceful assembly according to our Constitution so why is she being wronged? How could the city have been allowed to make such a ruling? Maybe she needs to sue the city.
Philip Warstler
Erikastoltz
The people that want to shut her down have obviosly never been hungry ever a day in thier life. SHAME ON THEM AND THIS HEARTLESS COUNTRY!
the4mutts
the4mutts