Debate on food pantry program location.

I haven't been following this but I know it's been in the news again. What's going on?

@PeoriaIllinoisan :
The city council created new ordinances related to porch pantries. How they are setup, hours, etc . These new rules basically forced the Porch Pantry to close.

Freedoms of helping those in need. City won't provide make them look bad.

@PeoriaIllinoisan :
WMBD did a story of it yesterday.
www.centralillinoisp roud.com/news/local- news/porch-pantry-cl oses-peoria/Disclosure: I shot and edited this story.

The city wants the food properly stored and handled. They porch pantry is not complaining (at least in the article from Dennis) and are working to comply. What am I missing?

@PeoriaIllinoisan :
Alot. She posted a video on FB complaining the city is out to shut her down. This pantry has gotten complaints almost daily since it started from various neighbors, numerous code violations, the list goes on.
I do think it was a bit shady on the city's part to act now only because a the couple is getting a divorce. (My opinion)

I'm reading all sorts of things. I read that she isn't shutting down, she is just temporarily closed so she can get into compliance before she re-opens.
While I'm all for what she is doing. If there are health/food safety issues in question, then yes, this needs to be addressed if they aren't nitpicky things. And since they are in a residential area, I agree with the city that there needs to be hours of operation.

@AntiRanchDrssng :
What time is it that 25 or so people have to shut down the party.

The Porch Pantry owner said in interview that she was told by the City there were neighbors complaining about homeless coming all hours to get free non-perishable food. She says she talked to neighbors, they claimed they never complained. She feels the ordinance passed targeted her place only. City wants her to pack up everything on the porch at night, move it into the house. And pay $250 for a permit. She claims other freestanding pantries at nearby places don't have to do that.
She also had freezers and refrigerators on the porch for perishable food. She got told to remove them, fearing kids would crawl inside, get trapped. She said her units were the new ones with ways to open doors from inside. I've read where people say she doesn't say the truth in everything, but she sounded sincere to me. She's been doing this since COVID to help those that had no other food resources. It wasn't until late last year that the City started taking a harder look at the Porch Pantry.
I just hope she bounces back, gets something going, because while we were there, at least 3 cars pulled up to drop off donations, had to be told not today.
My opinion and mine alone

@DennisinPeoria : Well, I don't know if I'd admit to someone's face that my actions (complaining to the city) was responsible for shutting down an accessible free food source for the city's less fortunate. If THAT information got out....
And thanks to you and your employer, this is making national news. I've seen it on Yahoo News and Reddit. Hopefully, this will give her some help and support to get into compliance quickly.

The Martins provided a good resource. I do believe they could have been better about dealing with issues associated with operating in a residential area. Instead of acting like victims, they should be working to alleviate concerns.

While deliveries can be made at any time, you notice people arriving at the door throughout the day. Even to midnight deliveries yet you can't get food for the needy.

Porch Pantry founder announces run for Peoria City Council www.25newsnow.com/20 26/08/10/porch-pantr y-founder-announces- run-peoria-city

@PeoriaIllinoisan :
Yeah, she had told us she was going to run. Why not, anyone that's a Peoria citizen can get petitions and run for council. More power to anyone that wants to do that.

Might open eyes to more than what the present mayor wants.