Betterton Shuts Down Room in the Inn Intake Center

 

With no prior warning, with hot food on the table (paid for with public donations), the Florence police entered the Room in the Inn intake center on Veterans Drive last night and forced everyone from the premises. Here's a first hand account:

A few minutes after our update post, the Police Chief came to the Room in the Inn intake center, which is on private property that we lease, where we serve a hot meal to anyone hungry three nights a week. Everyone was told they had to leave the premises immediately. No reason was given other than they were not allowed to be there.

We were able to gather back most of the folks who had been waiting so we could pass out meals, but some left and didn’t come back. 

Just as Jesus said in Matthew 14:16 “They do not need to go away, give them something to eat”, we believe that everyone who is hungry should be fed. No exceptions. 

These are vulnerable citizens, being turned away at every turn. This simply isn’t okay.

First, Florence's new mayor Andrew Betterton shuts down RITI's shelter, now he's closed the hot meal program. We hope he feels good about himself, because no decent person has any kind feelings for him at this point.

A conversation in the next 50 years of so:

God: So you decided to close the program in your town that fed the hungry and homeless?

Andy: That's right. No one wanted those people downtown for an hour or more, all congregated together like that. I know I sure didn't want to have to see them.

God: Then you certainly don't want to spend eternity with "those people" do you, Andy? I'll see if I can find you a special place that's much more suitable...