Generous Hands

New York Botanical Gardens, Bronx, NY   Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

Generous hands are blessed hands

because they give bread to the poor.

Proverbs 22:9

Angela Prattis lives in Chester Township, Pennsylvania, outside Philadelphia.  For the past few months, she has been handing out free lunches to the children in her neighborhood community while they are home on summer vacation.  The food is supplied by the archdiocese of Philadelphia to help low-income residents of the township.  Many times the only meal that a poor child receives during the day is their school lunch; summer break brings the very real danger of malnutrition among poor school-age children.

The city council found out about Prattis' free lunches, and ruled that she is violating a zoning law because she is giving away meals in a residential area.  She would need to have a variance from the City Council (administrative fees would cost up to $1,000), or be liable for fines of $600 a day.  The Council has finally agreed to allow Prattis to finish out this summer, but there are no guarantees for next summer.

You would think that the township's administration would be falling all over themselves to thank a woman who is willing to daily give of herself for such a thankless task.  Why are they knitpicking?  Do they need the administrative fee money?  Do they fear a loss of control?  A woman who is selflessly giving of her time and energy to ensure that the children in her neighborhood don't go hungry should be admired and praised, not tarred and feathered with red tape.  I think the members of the City Council should pop down to her side of town at lunchtime and help pass out the food.  Perhaps they would gain a different perspective and a more generous disposition.