Woman faces $600-a-day fine for feeding needy neighborhood kids


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A Pennsylvania woman who offers free lunch every day to low-income children in her neighborhood faces a $600-a-day fine next summer if she continues because she did not clear the food giveaway with township officials.

Angela Prattis donates her time to distribute the meals -- supplied by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia -- and adheres to strict paperwork, like filling out weekly reports and being visited bi-weekly from a state worker.

"Angela saw it as a way to contribute to the community in a positive way," Anne Ayella, a member of the archdiocese, said. "There was nothing in it for her."

Prattis laughed and said, "I don?t make a dime."

Prattis lived in the township for three years. She reportedly distributes the meals to the 60 or so children at a gazebo on her property during the summer months, when children are home from school.

The Delaware County Times reports that another resident alerted the council about the distribution a few weeks ago. The council investigated and ruled that the practice is not permitted without a variance, the paper reported.

Chester Township, which has a per capita income of $19,000 a year, says Prattis lives in a residential zone, hence handing out food to children is not allowed. The township says she needs to go before a zoning board to ask for a variance, which would cost her up to $1,000 in administrative fees.

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The township says she needs to go before a zoning board to ask for a variance, which would cost her up to $1,000 in administrative fees.

So she can go to the zoning board and 'pay' them ~$1000 to allow her to continue to serve kids free food... does anyone else see a problem with this?

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So she can go to the zoning board and 'pay' them ~$1000 to allow her to continue to serve kids free food... does anyone else see a problem with this?

Yes. The problem is that there are sixty kids in her neighborhood that somehow can't be provided for properly.

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Yes. The problem is that there are sixty kids in her neighborhood that somehow can't be provided for properly.

With a per capita income of 19,000 it is not surprising that they can't be provided for properly. I recently moved from Pa and I can tell you the job market out there is non existent. So perhaps the families are either unemployed or working so few hours they can barely make rent and bills let alone food. I don't think the story provides enough information to really come to a conclusion as to why they can't be fed.

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Sounds like the city council are desperate for cash, so they pull a stunt like this. Ridiculous.

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