Way to go Mayor Parker!

We lost the Charitable Feeding Ordinance vote 11-6

IT IS NOW A CRIME TO HELP SOMEONE. 

YES, SERIOUSLY.

Now most of the original requests by the City we have absolutely no problem complying with. We already prepare our food in a certified kitchen, I have my food safety certification, and pass out food within 2 (not 4) hours of preparation (I’ve been in the industry for 15 years, none of these things are new to me). Of course we don’t want anyone to get sick. The issue here is we feed anywhere up to 500 meals in less than 2 hours to Houston’s Homeless Community (along with clothing, toiletries, resources for job assistance, housing assistance, and medical help). We also pass out trash bags and use recyclable bags to hand out our food if possible. I understand how local residents and business feel about the trash and human waste so we are doing our part to leave things cleaner than when we arrived. Now it will be illegal for us to feed any more that 5 people at a time on private property in Houston. And here’s the CRAZY part, the City in which we pay taxes for to have public roads, parks, and well, public EVERYTHING is no longer considered public but PRIVATE. We have to get permission from the City to share a meal with the homeless individual (but it’s still legal to have a bbq with our friends at said places) on the corner  or at the park EVERY TIME. Not because he’s homeless but because he’s homeless on “private” City property. Or we get fined. (Last time I checked City property was public property!)

When I started Noah’s Kitchen 2 1/2 years ago it was so simple. We made some meals in the kitchen (at our house) and went driving around looking for those at corners or under bridges in need of a meal. And then we began to evolve. Finding more friends that wanted to help the less fortunate and becoming more organized. Today we have built a system where we operate under a charity status, follow feeding/health code guidelines, take demographics to better understand who/where we are serving, and do our best to not only feed and clothe, but actually HELP people get off the streets. And now that has become a CRIME.  This was supposed to be easy. And now there is so much red tape just to feed someone who is hungry. Why does this have to be so difficult? The City knows damn well there is no possible way to get permission for people on the move. And never once have I seen one of these large organizations out trying to feed those that can’t get to their shelters… Oh wait, that’s what WE do.

There is a petition available to help us fight this ordinance and we really need your help.  This ordinance represents the City of Houston latest attack on Houston’s homeless population, individuals, groups and organizations that feed or share food with others, and it sets the standard that public property is now private property for which you need the City’s permission to assemble. We need 20,000 signatures – please print it, sign it, have your friends sign it, and send it in to the address on the bottom of the petition!

* FEEDING ORDINANCE PETITION *

Our awesome volunteer Chris Carmona  has made both local and national news speaking on our behalf. I don’t know what I’d do without his voice, as  I work full-time during all these meetings and public sessions. Thank you so much Chris!

I feel the raw story put it best though.. you should read it. =)

By the way… we’re going to fight this ALL THE WAY!

February and March

These last two months have been pretty busy for me/us.

Our February 5th handout we were joined by some very special people. Our volunteer Heather had her parents Mark and Shelly Lewis. They drove all the way from Michigan bringing a truck bed full supplies with them donated by their Church. Talking with Mark and Shelly I understood this was a big change from what they were used to seeing as Michigan doesn’t have much of a homeless problem. I wanted to put into words how this made me feel but I think Shelly’s Facebook post said it most clearly, ” Wow, what a way to round out our vacation! Mark  and I just spent the morning working with Noah’s Kitchen preparing meals and taking them out into the streets of Houston to feed the homeless. What a humbling experience it was. My heart breaks for them all. The gratitude they showed with stay with me for the rest of my life. We took them clothes and gave shoes to a man who was barefoot. I’m crying as I type this because I AM SO OVERWHELMED!!!! Please be grateful for what you have and if you ever get the opportunity, do this in your town. You will not regret it and they will be more touched then you will ever know.” I know what we do is help the  less fortunate but seeing how our volunteers are touched can re-inspire every time.

February 6th I had a meeting with Melany, the store manager of Starbucks in Humble who was interested in coordinating their April community/”giving back” month.  We decided tot set up volunteers for our 3rd annual chili cookoff on April 15th. (Yay!)

 On the 11th my fiance’ and I found out some wonderful news, we’d be adding our youngest “volunteer” to Noah’s Kitchen. We confirmed this on the 13th with my OB giving us a due date of the second week in September. <3 Pretty excited to expand our little family! A little nervous as I am a high-risk pregnancy due to my previous losses but things seem to be going well and over four months in, I’m feeling more and more positive each day.

We had our scheduled handouts of February and at the beginning of March found out some frustrating news. I’m sure if you follow us on Twitter or on Facebook you have seen our posts about the Feeding Ordinance Mayor Parker and Houston is trying to impose on us and every other small organization in Harris County.  I’ve been contacted by Council Member (and lied to) and by news stations as well. I said the same thing to each of them and my feelings on this still stand, “ So after seriously reviewing said proposed “Feeding Ordinance” being voted on this Wed (3/5) It basically states we have to follow strict prepping/feeding guidelines that we can only feed on specified “health dept approved” places, at certain times, only certain parks, with approval each and every time… blah blah blah more RED TAPE… so really, we can’t feed the way we have been or even pass out meals to the homeless on the corners or under bridges (which is how we STARTED and our MISSION – reaching those who can’t get to more “known” feeding areas!) without being subject to “up to a $2000 fine” EVERY TIME. How is it that it has become IMPOSSIBLE for smaller org’s like us to help our neighbors and also become CRIMINALS IN THE PROCESS?! If this get’s passed it may shut US and dozens of other Houston organizations just like us down.”  (Yes I’m very passionate about this!)   Now there have been two public sessions, one vote,  and we are up to have a third session  and second vote Wednesday. There are close to 500 strong who openly stand against this ordinance but from the Mayor stands as of today (4/2), she feels she will win the vote. We have groups, petitions, and hundreds of people gathering to stand against this but it doesn’t seem to make a difference. I’m beginning to wonder who the Mayor actually stands for and if there is something more to passing this bill. (Oh yeah, it’s MONEY.)   On our last handout we interviewed several of our less fortunate friends and they gave us their feelings on the Feeding Ordinance being proposed.  We’ll see how this goes.  Wish us luck… 

January

We brought the new year in at our favorite place, Jenni’s Noodle House on the 8th. 10 brand new volunteers and over 500 hot/cold meals served. One of our newest volunteers Jeremy brought a great team out from his church and one of my derby sisters’ Heather joined us with her husband, boss, and her daughter as well.  A super huge thank you to Jenni and Scott for not only continuing to help us with a place to meet and prepare our meals but also setting out collection bins for their customers  to donate toiletries to us!

The 18th I attended the monthly meeting for the Coalition of the Homeless out here in Montgomery county and 19th the training for the PIT count (Point in Time). Both in Houston and Montgomery an annual census is done by volunteers and organizations to try and get an accurate count of the homeless community. This not only helps us get to know the Veterans, Men, Women, and Children that are living on the streets and makeshift “camps”  but also helps with getting grants and government funding to help the city, help them, with  changing their situation whatever it may be. Food, housing, job training, medical help…

The 22nd was quite touching, to say the least. We had both  seasoned volunteers and new volunteers including Chloe and her three daughters. (It’s not that I have become “used to/conditioned” to what we see but maybe in a way, I have.) When new people join us I like to get feedback on their thoughts and feelings and Chloe wanted to show her daughters what life was like for some, outside of their little “bubble”.  I watched the girls observe the homeless and even watch as we helped a young Mom out with diapers, food, and clothing for her three little girls. It could have been them, in a way. Chloe said it was quite an experience for them. For me that’s what it is about. To help the less fortunate and teach those around us, especially our children, how good we do have it and that we should be grateful for who we have in our lives and that we are so fortunate not to be in that situation ourselves. Statistics say the majority of families are 1-2 paychecks away from homelessness and I have watch the number rise from 12,500 in 2010 to 13,000 in 2011, and now 14,000 in 2012. These numbers are saddening but we’ll keep helping in any way we possibly can.

Now on a SUPER BADASS POSITIVE NOTE….  Saint Arnold Brewing Company chose us for the 2ND year in a row to be the beneficiary for their 5th annual One Pot Show Down. I can’t begin to tell you how incredibly wonderful it feels to be chosen not only once but twice.  Such an honor and we’re so incredibly GRATEFUL. Saint Arnold also invited us (Myself and volunteers Jonathan and Frances Parker) out to collect food donations and enjoy the festivities of the day and not only did they raise  $5320 for us but also packed the car from the back to the front to the top of the windows with food and toiletries that will take us out well into the year!!! The funds will help us expand our serving “menu” to include meats and fresh veggies (on occasion) and now make it possible to offer breakfast randomly throughout the year as well. Thank you again so much!  Please enjoy this awesome slideshow Frances and Jonathan put together for us =)

One Pot Show Down