Posted on 11/29/2006 9:59:13 AM PST by Froufrou
The casserole has been canned. Under a tough new Fairfax County policy, residents can no longer donate food prepared in their homes or a church kitchen -- be it a tuna casserole, sandwiches or even a batch of cookies -- unless the kitchen is approved by the county, health officials said yesterday.
"We're very aware that a number of homeless people eat out of dumpsters, and mom's pot roast has got to be healthier than that," said Jim Brigl, chief executive of Fairfax Area Christian Emergency & Transitional Services. "But that doesn't meet the code." County officials estimate that about 2,000 people are homeless in Fairfax. They are served by a network of shelters that swells to more than three dozen over the winter. FACETS, a Fairfax nonprofit group, coordinates most hypothermia shelters, which are set to open Friday in two dozen churches and other facilities.
Under state and county code, food served to the public must be prepared in a kitchen that has been inspected and certified by the county Health Department. Those standards are high: a commercial-grade refrigerator, a three-compartment sink to wash, rinse and sanitize dishes and a separate hand-washing sink, among other requirements. Health officials said they weren't aware that food from unapproved kitchens was being served in homeless shelters.
To help the churches prepare, the Health Department is waiving a $60 fee for certification and is holding additional safe food-handling classes for church volunteers. It is also giving churches that do not have approved kitchens a list of other houses of worship with such facilities.
The crackdown has also hit year-round shelters. They prepare their food in on-site commercial kitchens, but many also accept donations from people who bring leftover food, home-baked goodies and other products to their doors.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Cook it and donate it anyhow. Tell Fairfax to stuff it.
well, we may see lawsuits.
I can see it now. Homeless person gets food poisoning from some donated food. Then, the donator of the food gets sued for not meeting the food prep. codes. It could happen.
Long time no see. You know, I had a whole lot of BBQ I wanted to take to the Metro Ministries and they wouldn't take it. But, you know darn good and well a street person doesn't want you to buy him a sandwich and coffee. No, he wants the cashola for cigs and beer.
Seems to me that all Fairfax is really going to accomplish is to discourage charity and volunteerism. More of the Nanny State rubbish...
And I mean, literally impossible.
We actually have bums that 'winter' here because the pickings are good. They go back north or east in the summer when it's too hot here for their preference.
What happened to vagrancy laws?
It's a good question for the Mayor and Police Chief... I doubt they'd give you a straight answer.
Another thing I just thought: how long will it be before these same authorities who decided that kitchens must be inspected will also declare that any religious symbols cannot be shown nor religious themes mentioned when handing out foods to the "poor"..
Oh! Are any of these country officials Democrats? Well, then ... three cheers for these fine people who are trying to make sure that the homeless get the high quality, certified food they deserve!
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