Pastors Asked to Support Change in Food Sharing Law

Elizabeth Conklin, one of the attorneys representing Food Not Bombs, has asked Middletown church leaders to urge state legislative leaders to alter a law which prevents churches and other organizations from sharing food with those in need.

Food Not Bombs has been cited by Middletown and state health departments for sharing food that has not been prepared in a licensed kitchens. In addition St. Vincent dePaul Soup Kitchen was cited Tuesday for serving a Sunday meal in which food, not prepared in local kitchens, was shared with the public.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal wrote a letter yesterday to State Senate and House leaders urgint them to change the law to allow an exception for charitable organizations which distribute food.

In his letter, First Church pastor John Hall cites what he sees as a threat to community meals at his church if the law is not changed.

I am writing to thank you for your attention to the threat facing charitable organizations regarding our food sharing practices. A number of clergy from Middletown, including me, met with Attorney General Blumenthal on September 18 to discuss the serious alarm and disruption caused in our organizations by the action of the Middletown Health Department against Food Not Bombs. My church is also the location where Food Not Bombs is currently preparing the food it shares on Sunday afternoon, since we have a licensed kitchen.

The problem for churches and the St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen arises from the Middletown Health Department’s apparent need to appear consistent in its enforcement action regarding food not prepared in licensed kitchens. They have threatened to cite St. Vincent DePaul if it accepts food prepared in people’s homes. If this enforcement action takes place and is extended consistently, it will shut down a huge percentage of the charitable food donations in our city. As a result, food insecurity and hunger will increase — a special tragedy during these difficult economic times. I understand that the Middletown Health Department is communicating with health departments in other communities to encourage enforcement of the same policy.

I am very grateful to Attorney General Blumenthal for recognizing that the state law on this matter (PA 95-44) was most likely intended to exempt charitable organizations, not just charitable fundraisers. Likewise, I am very grateful to you for taking up the cause in this special session in order to resolve this matter once and for all. It makes no sense to exempt the sale of food but not the giving of food.

Our church hosts a free community Christmas Day dinner that feeds 300 people. This meal requires many turkeys, hams, pies, cookies, brownies, cakes, etc. to be prepared in people’s homes because there is not enough oven space or standing room in the church kitchen for this to be accomplished. Also, every Sunday evening a different church prepares and serves the supper at St. Vincent’s. Some or many components of these meals are prepared in homes — casseroles, pasta sauce, salads, brownies, cupcakes, etc. People are willing to make these donations in part because they can do the work at home where it is more convenient. Even the goodies that we share after worship every Sunday morning are largely made in people’s homes. It is just not realistic for this to be done in any other way.

Church leaders are urged to communicate with legislative leaders immediately so that action can take place in the short legislative session currently underway.

Senate President Don Williams
phone 240-8600 fax 240-8406

Email Williams@senatedems.ct.gov

Speaker of the House Chris Donovan
phone 240-8500 fax 240-0208

Christopher.Donovan@cga.ct.gov