Local Religious Group Feeds The Homeless On The Parkway After Court Victory
By Molly Daly
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Early Saturday evening, one of the religious groups that successfully challenged the City's ban on serving food to the homeless outdoors offered thanks in the form of a meal on the Ben Franklin Parkway.
Reverend Brian Jenkins, the pastor of Chosen 300 Ministries, says he was not taking a victory lap, but was just doing what he's done every Saturday since 1996.
"We're doing what we're supposed to do, sharing our subsidence as under Christ and giving them the best that we can and giving them some encouragement, giving them hope, shaking their hands and celebrating Christ today."
Jenkins says his ministry's regular Saturday meal is one of many efforts to offer physical and spiritual nourishment to those in need in locations throughout the city.
"The reason why we fought this regulation so hard is because there's grandmmothers that cook soup and sandwiches in their kitchen and they come out in the middle of the night and walk around and pass out soup and somebody needs to stand up and defend them."
Jenkins adds that he disagreed with the City's argument that moving the meals indoors or outside City Hall would be more respectful of the dignity of the homeless and is happy they are still able to offer food and fellowship in the chosen location.
