BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH) – A local organization dedicated to feeding the homeless says the health department won’t let them pass out food.
The Wagon Train Warriors are a group of volunteers that pull wagons around Broome County filled with essential goods for the homeless population.
The organization says that on Tuesday, volunteers were setting up to distribute food at the bus station in Downtown Binghamton, as they do regularly.
The volunteers say representatives from the Broome County Health Department showed up and would not allow them to hand out food without a permit.
The President of the Wagon Train Warriors, Robin Carter says, “People just started coming out of the bus station because they see us and they know we bring food. And they just started going crazy because they were hungry. We had women in tears, “I’ve been waiting for you guys, I’ve been starving, I haven’t eaten in two days.” And I said can’t we please just give them their sandwiches? No.”
The health department says that to hand out food, it must be prepared in a kitchen with a formal permit.
As of yesterday, the Wagon Train Warriors partnered with the Salvation Army on Washington Street, which has a permit, and will be preparing meals out of their kitchen on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The health department released a statement that says any food received by the public must meet state standards to ensure food quality and prevent illness.