A Birmingham, Alabama pastor was shut down for giving over a hundred hot dogs and water bottles to homeless people without a permit to serve food.
The pastor was simply following what the Bible says about giving food to the hungry. As it says in Matthew 25:35-40, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink." If it's against the law to give food and water to hungry people for free, the laws need to be clarified. Interpreting the law in a way that punishes charities sets a terrible precedent.
The new permit laws, enacted in December, were intended to apply to food trucks, not charities. Birmingham, Alabama law enforcement needs to let the pastor continue doing his charity work and, if necessary, rewrite this law so it's clear that it applies to for-profit vendors, not charities.
We, the undersigned, are concerned that a Birmingham, Alabama pastor was shut down for giving over a hundred hot dogs and water bottles to homeless people without a permit to serve food.
The pastor was simply following what the Bible says about giving food to the hungry. As it says in Matthew 25:35-40, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink." If it's against the law to give food and water to hungry people for free, the laws need to be clarified. Interpreting the law in a way that punishes charities sets a terrible precedent.
The new permit laws, enacted in December, were intended to apply to food trucks, not charities. We believe that Birmingham, Alabama law enforcement needs to let the pastor continue doing his charity work and, if necessary, rewrite this law so it's clear that it applies to for-profit vendors, not charities. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
