St. Vincent DePaul’s Soup Kitchen Needs You!

(Article written by Katy Swede Taillon, from the Independent Day School Rotary Interact Club)

At St. Vincent DePaul’s Soup Kitchen, people are plentiful but supplies are scarce. If a mug is returned to the counter, it can’t just sit around. It has to be instantly washed in the dishwasher, dried with the few towels, the soup kitchen has on hand, and refilled to serve another person a cup of juice with their lunch.

Because we know there is a need for mugs, dishtowels, flatware (such as forks, knifes and spoons), the IDS Interact Club, sponsored by and working in cooperation with the Middletown Rotary Club, are determined to help. About 25 or more students from the Independent Day School Middle School are leading the charge to gain more resources for St. Vincent De Paul.

Throughout the month of March, the Interact Club and the entire IDS community will be donating mugs, dish towels, silverware, and other useful kitchen items like serving spoons and soup ladles. The collection is for the whole school and the Interact Club wants to invite the entire Greater Middletown community to join us in helping out. Please help the club out by donating directly so they can help others at the soup kitchen! If you have extra items for the soup kitchen, they can be delivered to the soup kitchen on Main Street in Middletown between 10:00 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. and ask for Mandie or Lydia.

Please bring:

~Mugs

~Dishtowels

~Silverware/Flatware

~Serving pieces like slotted spoons, soup ladles, serving forks, spatulas, etc.

This is a great way to do some Spring cleaning and clear out what you do not need or use in your kitchen any more, and still help others. Thank you for helping!

Can Somebody Say Amen!

Middletown Common Council chambers were packed Monday night, mostly by supporters of the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen, and the concept of feeding the hungry. Sympathetic residents, member of the faith based community, and patrons of the local soup kitchen gathered for an agenda item upon which no action would need to be taken.

Ron Krom, director of St. Vincent dePaul, and Kokomo Rock, of 191414 Ministries served as spokespersons for the contingent.

Krom explained that while a new state law, passed Friday by the State House and Senate, and signed by the governor today, allows charitable organizations to distribute food prepared in kitchens which are unlicensed, there were some outstanding issues to be addressed in town.

"The bigger question is how did we find ourselves in a place where we needed the entire State of CT to bail Middletown out of a situation that it should never have found itself in," Krom asked. "There are many laws on the books that are foolish and that are ignored by local governments across our State. Many other cities and towns in CT have soup kitchens, shelters, transitional living facilities, church outreach dinners, or similar charitable activities, and it is a well known, common practice for people of faith to participate by donating food that is prepared in their homes. Middletown is not unique in this, but somehow only our City Health Department has decided that this is a legal battle worth fighting.

"These last few months during the country’s worst economic calamity - where friends and neighbors are losing jobs, income and security – Middletown is prohibiting its citizens from sharing food with one another. The City, through its health department, is sending memos to its faith communities to “remind” them that the only food that is safe to share with the poor is food prepared in kitchens that the Health Department has licensed.

The problem is that this is not about food safety. This did not begin because someone got sick at a soup kitchen or shelter in town. This came about because of a legal problem. In an effort to be consistent, to appear as if they are not selectively enforcing the law, the Health Dept. feels compelled to curtail the food sharing practices at the Soup Kitchen that the faith communities have been engaged in for many, many years. The City looks to the faith communities and non-profits to provide many services for its citizens. It is shameful to ask us to do that and then to limit our food resources."

Krom asked the elected officials in attendance to take a stand for charitable giving by assuring that ordinances are interpreted and enforced in the way they are intended.

"For me, this has been an issue of faith," Krom said. "I think there are many more in this room tonight who are also here because of their faith. It is common in the Christian tradition to affirm a statement with a simple 'AMEN.' For those of you here tonight who have listened to my testimony and wish to affirm what I’ve said, at this time I’d ask you to please stand and say 'AMEN.'"

At his request, nearly the entire room stood and responded with a resounding 'amen.'

Rock echoed Krom's sentiment and enthusiasm for the cause of fighting hunger.

"I've seen some sorry messes in my time, perpetrated agains the interest of the poor," Rock said. "But this is one that fairly takes the cake. Let us resolve to go forth resolved to not let another sun set when we have to ask, 'Will I fear to feed the hungry from the resources of my own table.'"

When Council members asked Assistant City Attorney Tim Lynch, and Health Department Enforcement Code Officer Sal Nesci whether the new state law would put an end to action at the state health department, Lynch indicated that it was Food Not Bombs which requested the hearing, and it would be their decision to call an end to the hearing. Lynch also indicated that Food Not Bombs, which is suing the city on a perceived first amendment violation, has not given any indication whether they will withdraw that lawsuit or not.

In other business, the Council voted to fund a new electronic scoreboard at Palmer Fields with state money from the Local Capital Improvement Fund. The $165,000 state-0f-the-art scoreboard would replace a much older model currently used, which is in need of repair. Advocates for the scoreboard indicated that Palmer field was used frequently by city teams, and generated income through state, regional and national tournaments held there.

The Council also voted $30,000 to fund continued pick-up of bulky waste throughout the city until a study is done of the recently-passed ordinance which required a fee for each pick-up. That ordinance was criticized after city streets, especially in the downtown 'sanitation district' became lined with bulky waste over the summer.

Council members quizzed Public Works director Bill Russo about the situation, and why bulky waste had not been removed immediately. He, and Nesci explained that the new ordinance required them to cite property owners first, and only then remove the waste.

Council members urged Russo and his department to pick up waste immediately, record information about property-owners who were violating the code, and pursue reimbursement later.

Later in the meeting Council members voted to re-examine the bulky-waste ordinance after it had been considered by the Ordinance Study Committee, the Health Commission, and the Public Works Commission.

Revised Charitable Food Distribution Statute Passes House and Senate

Senator Paul Doyle just called to say that the budget implementer bill, which contains the revised statute for charitable distribution of food not prepared in licensed kitchens, just passed the Senate after earlier passage in the House.

It is now on the governor's desk, where there is optimism that she will sign this implementer bill.

Krom Responds to Health Department Assertions

Ron Krom, Director of St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen has sent a point by point refutation of some of the assertions made in a letter the Health Department sent to Mayor Sebastian Giuliano and the Common Council.



Mayor and Members of the Council



I know that the following letter to you from Sal Nesci was not directed to me, but since I've seen a copy, I cannot ignore many of the statements that were made in it. In the spirit of providing accurate information on this topic, I would like to offer the following. My comments follow each of the bullets in Sal's letter. I would be happy to speak with any of you regarding this matter at any time.



Ron Krom

Executive Director

St. Vincent DePaul Place



The following is the letter from Sal Nesci:



Gerry/Tim/Mayor/Council...

I do understand that you all have been getting lots of calls and emails about the alleged cease and desist order issued to St. Vincent DePaul Place. First of all, I want to make it clear that it is with the most heavy of hearts that I, as well as Dr. Havlicek and Manfred Rehm of the Health Department, had to put our signature on a legal notice to St. Vincent DePaul. A legal notice is not a cease and desist order. It is a written notification following an inspection or investigation resulting in the discovery of a violation. It allows the individual two weeks to seek a modification of the said practice in order to assure state compliance. Failure to comply usually results in the issuance of a legal order...for food service its usually 30 days. Failure to comply with the legal order Iusually results in the revocation of the license or abatement of the violation.



I've not used "cease and desist" at all. I've been clear in all that I've said and written that the legal notice comes as a CT DPH Food Inspection Report violation. I've also been clear that the legal notice I received said that "failure to correct the outstanding violation will result in the issuance of legal orders and . . . this may put your license to distribute food and beverage within the City of Middletown in jeopardy of being revoked."



For the record:The health department was never aware that the soup kitchen was open on Sunday's until about a month ago. In fact Inspector Rehm was told on numerous occasions that the soup kitchen is only open Monday through Friday. He has been told that by Ron Krom for several months.



It is unfortunate that this has now become a "he said, she said" - I have no recording of our conversations. However, neither I nor our Soup Kitchen Coordinator has ever said that we are only open Monday through Friday. I personally have never been asked that question. What reason would I have to hide the days of the week that we're open? In fact, I'm proud of the fact that we serve 363 days a year and we tell that to every funder, including the City of Middletown in our CDBG grant application every year for more than a decade. It says "Our Soup Kitchen is open seven days a week, 363 days a year." Granted, the health department doesn't see that application or my reports, but why would I tell the health department "on numerous occasions" that we are only open from Monday through Friday? For the record we're also open on Saturdays for breakfast and lunch, in addition to Sunday evenings for dinner.



The health department was never aware that the one meal that was served on Sunday nights was provided by area churches under the supervision of a soup kitchen staff member.



Yes they were. I personally told Fred Rehm this back in February or March when he came to ask me questions about the Food Not Bombs group. I remember telling him that I didn't know much about the Food Not Bombs meal, that it was served outside the Soup Kitchen by folks who were not connected to us. At that time I mentioned that our meals were on Sunday evenings.



The health department was never aware that a portion of this Sunday night meal was prepared in private homes and transported to the soup kitchen.



I believe that they were not aware of this until sometime near the end of August. On September 2, Fred Rehm was in my office and I confirmed that this was the case.



When we were made aware that this activity was possibly happening, we approached Ron Krom to ask if it is true and he stated to us that he has a criteria he uses to assure food coming in on Sunday night meets state code requirements and to the best of his knowledge it does. I stated to him that if that is the case than he is to continue his current practice and we as a health department will work with the area churches to educate them on proper donation procedures.



In fact, I assured them that the food comes from many home kitchens. Sal stated to me over the phone that I should continue my current practice and that he would work with the churches.The health department then sent a memo to all area churches reminding them that all charitable contributions made in the name of their organization should be that of non perishable food or food prepared in their licensed kitchens. The memo was sent on Sept 8, "reminding" churches that "all food contributions to any charitable event should be prepared on the premises in your kitchen currently licensed by the Middletown Health Department." The churches were confused - this was received more as a directive than a reminder. The only thing they remember is that they've been involved in this ministry for almost 30 years. I began to get calls asking "what's this about?" "Can we still serve our meal on Sunday?" "Will we be allowed to bring cupcakes that are baked in our parishioners' homes?"



At a recent hearing at DPH regarding Food Not Bombs, Mr. Krom was called as a witness and gave sworn testimony that he does in fact receive a portion of his Sunday night meal from private home kitchens which is in violation of the state health code. In fact he gave very specific examples of certain foods he receives from private kitchens on a regular basis.



This is true - I did not say anything that I had not already told Mr. Rehm and Mr. Nesci.



Because of the statement he made, we were required by virtue of the professional licenses we hold to confirm this and take appropriate steps to assist in the modification of the current practice. The very next day, Inspector Rehm visited Mr. Krom and Mr. Krom re-affirmed the statements he made in his sworn testimony the day before.



Why at the time of this hearing? Why not on September 2?



The notice sent does not pertain to the general operations of the facility Monday-Friday. It is only relative to a small percentage of the food distributed on Sunday night.



Not true. We receive sandwiches during the week from non-licensed kitchens. They come from families, church receptions, student classrooms, sunday school/catechism classes and more. At least a part of every meal, every Sunday night, is prepared in home kitchens. Last year we served 4133 meals on Sunday nights, or an average of 80 meals each Sunday. This is a significant part of our program and the need is growing. We are already serving 15% more people than this time last year.



To the issue of discretion:As we understand it, we are only talking about a percentage of the Sunday night meal in question. Relative to that, we believe that a viable solution would be to encourage donors continue using the licensed kitchens at their churches and to donate commercially prepared and prepackaged food that could be heated and served on the premises whereby eliminating the issue of cooking in their own homes. As we understand it, many churches already donate commercially prepared and prepackaged food to the soup kitchen. We are willing to work with any group that cannot readily comply and come to a code compliant resolution to anyone organizations concern and willingness to feed the hungry.



In some cases, it is the entire Sunday meal that comes from homes. Some of the smaller faith communities are able to participate in this program precisely because they can get their parishioners to sign up and make casseroles or desserts at home. If they were required to gather a group on a Sunday afternoon in a licensed kitchen, some have said they would not be able to participate. It isn't only about having a licensed kitchen - it's about gathering a group of people to prepare the meal.



We are in no way intending on revoking the license of St. Vincent DePaul. If we are put in a position where further code enforcement is required, we would only be seeking to curtail the distribution of food during the Sunday night program in that we need to assure that home cooked food is not distributed.



If there is no intention of revoking the license, then why include that language in the Legal Notice that they sent to me?



The health department is not looking to shut down thanksgiving and/or Christmas dinners. We are willing to work with any organization to make sure that there is a way to cook all turkeys. Just off the top of my head, we could utilize fraternal organization kitchens, school kitchens, church kitchens and restaurant kitchens. We just need to know how many turkeys need to be cooked.



There are turkeys, pies, breads, and more. I don't dispute that it may be possible to have this all prepared in licensed kitchens. If that is necessary, I would appreciate the assistance of the Health Dept to coordinate all that. Right now it is coordinated by the faith communities and a few volunteers who spend countless hours to put on these meals.



The Middletown health department values the security and safety of food distribution. It is our belief that the hungry and homeless of our community deserve the same rights and privileges in a free meal as paying customers at a restaurant do. All restaurants are inspected for compliance of their general practices regularly and that food is acquired from approved sources. Shouldn't the patrons of St. Vincent DePaul on Sunday nights receive the same consideration? That goes to the same position with Food Not Bombs?



St. Vincent DePaul Place values security and safety of food distribution too. And we absolutely believe that the poor and homeless of our community deserve the same rights and privileges as everyone. Don't they deserve a home cooked meal too? A license does not guarantee food safety. We take food safety very seriously and ensure the proper heating, refrigeration, storage, and serving protocols. We also have a 30-year history of serving food to this vulnerable population and no one can remember any incidence of food poisoning. Can the same be said for all the licensed restaurants in town?



Any resolution or change to current city ordinance regulating the distribution of food and beverage cannot supersede current state statute or health code.

We are encouraged by the activity on the State level to change this law. Today's Courant reports that legislators were "dumbfounded" to learn that state laws prohibit the longstanding practice of parishioners preparing meals in their homes for shelters and food kitchens. There is a bipartisan movement to get this legislative change onto the implementer bill, and Governor Rell has said that she supports that too.



Food safety and security has taken a front line position in our national security post 9/11 and much time, energy and money have been spent in the way of agro terrorism. To compromise our interpretation of code regulation, we are minimizing state and federal efforts of homeland security and safety.

Just because every other town "compromises their interpretation of the code" doesn't make it right. I get that. But to not do so threatens our ability to provide nutritious meals to the poor of our community. Somehow, some way, I believe that we can find an answer. And hopefully the State law is changed very quickly.



***We had a very productive meeting this morning with Peter Harding, who as you know is the former director of St. Vincent DePaul. He is willing to work with us to achieve compliance. It is his understanding, as it is ours, that the entire situation has been blown way out of proportion and the issue we are dealing with in this legal notice is small in comparison to what the media and blogs have turned it into. He has assured me that together we will come to and understanding where we will be able to put this issue to rest without compromising the mission of the soup kitchen as well as our professional integrity. My spirit is strong in this regard and we will work to do what ever we can to make this happen. I will keep you posted.



I'm glad that Peter is willing to work with the Health Dept. to help sort this out and to find a compromise. I welcome the opportunity to participate in these discussions as well.

Health Department Defends Citation of St. Vincent dePaul

The mayor's office and Common Council members have received dozens of letters, emails and phone calls concerning the enforcement by Middletown's Health Department of a statute which prohibits the distribution of food not prepared in licensed kitchens, to the public.

The statute was initially cited as the reason for arresting members of Food Not Bombs for distributing food in a shared meal each Sunday on the corner of Main and Liberty Streets.

In defending the Health Department actions Health Department official Sal Nesci wrote a letter to Middletown official making the timeline of actions of his department clear, defending an accusation that the health department cited St. Vincent dePaul Soup Kitchen because its director, Ron Krom, spoke in defense of Food Not Bombs at a state Health Department hearing.

Nesci also states that the city, meaning the Common Council, does not have the ability to create a statute that would supersede state law.

Additionally, Nesci emphasizes the importance of food safety in light of "our national security post-911" indicating that allowing to be served to the needy from unlicensed kitchens could be linked to "agro terrorism" and would minimize efforts to maintain "homeland safety and security."

Nesci also notes that "the entire situation has been blown way out of proportion" and that the issues is "small in comparison what the media and blogs have turned it into."

The entire letter can be read below:

Gerry/Tim/Mayor/Council...

I do understand that you all have been getting lots of calls and emails about the alleged cease and desist order issued to St. Vincent DePaul Place. First of all, I want to make it clear that it is with the most heavy of hearts that I, as well as Dr. Havlicek and Manfred Rehm of the Health Department, had to put our signature on a legal notice to St. Vincent DePaul. A legal notice is not a cease and desist order. It is a written notification following an inspection or investigation resulting in the discovery of a violation. It allows the individual two weeks to seek a modification of the said practice in order to assure state compliance. Failure to comply usually results in the issuance of a legal order...for food service its usually 30 days. Failure to comply with the legal order usually results in the revocation of the license or abatement of the violation.

For the record:

• The health department was never aware that the soup kitchen was open on Sunday's until about a month ago. In fact Inspector Rehm was told on numerous occasions that the soup kitchen is only open Monday through Friday. He has been told that by Ron Krom for several months.
• The health department was never aware that the one meal that was served on Sunday nights was provided by area churches under the supervision of a soup kitchen staff member.
• The health department was never aware that a portion of this Sunday night meal was prepared in private homes and transported to the soup kitchen.
• When we were made aware that this activity was possibly happening, we approached Ron Krom to ask if it is true and he stated to us that he has a criteria he uses to assure food coming in on Sunday night meets state code requirements and to the best of his knowledge it does. I stated to him that if that is the case than he is to continue his current practice and we as a health department will work with the area churches to educate them on proper donation procedures.
• The health department then sent a memo to all area churches reminding them that all charitable contributions made in the name of their organization should be that of non perishable food or food prepared in their licensed kitchens.
• At a recent hearing at DPH regarding Food Not Bombs, Mr. Krom was called as a witness and gave sworn testimony that he does in fact receive a portion of his Sunday night meal from private home kitchens which is in violation of the state health code. In fact he gave very specific examples of certain foods he receives from private kitchens on a regular basis.
• Because of the statement he made, we were required by virtue of the professional licenses we hold to confirm this and take appropriate steps to assist in the modification of the current practice. The very next day, Inspector Rehm visited Mr. Krom and Mr. Krom re-affirmed the statements he made in his sworn testimony the day before.
• The notice sent does not pertain to the general operations of the facility Monday-Friday. It is only relative to a small percentage of the food distributed on Sunday night.

To the issue of discretion:

• As we understand it, we are only talking about a percentage of the Sunday night meal in question. Relative to that, we believe that a viable solution would be to encourage donors continue using the licensed kitchens at their churches and to donate commercially prepared and prepackaged food that could be heated and served on the premises whereby eliminating the issue of cooking in their own homes. As we understand it, many churches already donate commercially prepared and prepackaged food to the soup kitchen. We are willing to work with any group that cannot readily comply and come to a code compliant resolution to anyone organizations concern and willingness to feed the hungry.
• We are in no way intending on revoking the license of St. Vincent DePaul. If we are put in a position where further code enforcement is required, we would only be seeking to curtail the distribution of food during the Sunday night program in that we need to assure that home cooked food is not distributed.

Other:

• The health department is not looking to shut down thanksgiving and/or Christmas dinners. We are willing to work with any organization to make sure that there is a way to cook all turkeys. Just off the top of my head, we could utilize fraternal organization kitchens, school kitchens, church kitchens and restaurant kitchens. We just need to know how many turkeys need to be cooked.
• The Middletown health department values the security and safety of food distribution. It is our belief that the hungry and homeless of our community deserve the same rights and privileges in a free meal as paying customers at a restaurant do. All restaurants are inspected for compliance of their general practices regularly and that food is acquired from approved sources. Shouldn't the patrons of St. Vincent DePaul on Sunday nights receive the same consideration? That goes to the same position with Food Not Bombs?
• Any resolution or change to current city ordinance regulating the distribution of food and beverage cannot supersede current state statute or health code.
• Food safety and security has taken a front line position in our national security post 9/11 and much time, energy and money have been spent in the way of agro terrorism. To compromise our interpretation of code regulation, we are minimizing state and federal efforts of homeland security and safety.

***We had a very productive meeting this morning with Peter Harding, who as you know is the former director of St. Vincent DePaul. He is willing to work with us to achieve compliance. It is his understanding, as it is ours, that the entire situation has been blown way out of proportion and the issue we are dealing with in this legal notice is small in comparison to what the media and blogs have turned it into. He has assured me that together we will come to and understanding where we will be able to put this issue to rest without compromising the mission of the soup kitchen as well as our professional integrity. My spirit is strong in this regard and we will work to do what ever we can to make this happen. I will keep you posted.

Does State Health Statute Make Communion Illegal?

"On a regular basis, every Sunday, we have communion," said Reverend Joel Neubauer, pastor of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church on Washington Street, at a meeting of the faith-based community concerned with state laws regulating charitable food distribution. "People bring wine from home. They bake bread at home and bring it to church for communion. We drink out of the same cup. Now I'm hearing that it's an illegal act?"

Attorney Dan Livingston, part of the law firm defending Food Not Bombs against a citation for distributing food without a license, confirmed the worse.

"Technically, it's illegal," Livingston said. "But whether the health department would cite you is another question."

"We're basically not being able to practice our faith because or what they're saying," Reverend R. Maureen Hawksley of St. Paul Lutheran Church said.

"You could make that argument," Livingston agreed.

The group included concerned members of the Middletown clergy, members of the health care community, and other concerned residents. They gathered because they are alarmed by a recent strict adherence by the city Health Department to a state statute prohibiting any food not prepared in a licensed kitchen from being served to the public.

The meeting was held Monday night at the St. Vincent dePaul Soup Kitchen on Main Street where director Ron Krom served as host, and provided a historical context for the meeting. He explained that indeed, state statute prohibits any food not prepared in a licensed kitchen, from being served to the public on a regular basis.

This statute was cited by city health department officials when they arrested Food Not Bombs members for sharing food with the public in a regular Sunday meal on the corner of Main and Liberty Streets.

Krom noted the similarity between what Food Not Bombs was doing and what his organization did every Sunday at dinner when they served food prepared and donated by community members. And when he testified to the fact at a state hearing, he found himself the subject of a Health Department citation.

"If I don't comply," he explained. "They have threatened to take away my license."

Krom explained that the citation did not come when the city first learned of the distribution of food from unlicensed kitchens at his soup kitchen, but only after he made public testimony at the State Department of Health in defense of Food Not Bombs.

"We serve sandwiches that are made by some of the schools, by some of the Catholic classes, Boy and Girl Scouts," Krom said. "And now we're being told we cannot receive these sandwiches."

As many pointed out, the irony of the current law is that it provides an exception for charitable organizations who cook food in unlicensed kitchens, and sell it to raise funds. So a bake sale is legal, but a church after-service social, at which baked goods are shared, is technically illegal.

"What if we sold the food at Sunday meals for a penny," suggested Middletown YMCA director Bob Spencer, who is also on the board of directors at St. Vincent dePaul.

"The law is rarely this blatantly stupid," Livingston explained noting that the state legislature, which is currently in special session, has been urged to address the flaw in the law (CT State Statute 19A-36). "Technically this is not a budget issue," he said. "But they could hook this change onto an implementer bill, which is a budget bill."

State Senator Paul Doyle, who represents Middletown, was the only state or city elected official at the meeting.

"I guarantee I will try to get it in," Doyle promised. "But I can't promise that it will make it in or that it will pass. I will certainly push and I will speak to the rest of the delegation. The cause is so broad that it affects everyone. The truth of the matter is that sometimes the legislature merely reacts, and there are unintended consequences."

Many at the meeting expressed disbelief that the Middletown Health Department was so determined to uphold the statute, in an across-the-board consistent manner, and they were alternately angry and saddened by this enforcement.

"If they're going to try to be consistent about it," said Reverend John Hall of First Church. "Then they're going to have to shut down all the church coffee hours, the Shepard Home, the Christmas dinners served by the churches."

The Reverend Cocomo Rock explained that at low point in his life, he sought out sustenance from a charitable organization.

"Had it not been for a local church I wouldn't have been able to eat," he said passionately. "Unless I ate in a jail, or a hospital, or I ate something I stole. Or from a garbage can."

"There are no licensed dumpsters," Livingston said. "We don't want people to eat from unlicensed kitchens, but they can eat from dumpsters. Everyone of us who is lucky enough to have a home eats out of an unlicensed kitchen every day."

"I think it's ironic that the policy over the past several years has been to cut back on the state and city sponsored projects, and rely on churches and people of faith to take up these programs, and now we've come to this," said Juan Figueroa, of the Universal Health Project.

Much of the meeting was given over to a discussion of strategies to change the law, and simultaneously prevent any organization which helps to feed the hungry from being prevented from doing so.

"We must remember that winter is coming and that the economy is getting further depressed, and that means more hunger, so we can't stop," said Bishop William McKissick of the New Jerusalem Church. "I'd love to lead the charge and serve people food and say 'Come and arrest me," but it's the hungry kid that worries me. There will be hunger. This is not about that, it's about a law that's stupid."

"It's absurd," said real estate developer and former director of St. Vincent dePaul Soup Kitchen Peter Harding. "We're going to hesitate to feed people? That's bull."

The group agreed to address the problem by immediately contacting state legislators to push through the change during this special session. In addition, Community Health Center CEO, Mark Masselli urged the group to approach the mayor, the majority leader and the Common Council of Middletown to make adjustment to the ordinance and the enforcement. Republican Council member David Bauer has drafted a Council resolution, but it is still being considered by the city's Health Commission