LONGVIEW, Texas — An East Texas nonprofit is resuming meal distribution for unhoused people in the Longview area. Earlier this week, One Love Longview staff said members of the city’s Environmental Health Division told them that they had to get a food permit if they wanted to continue to distribute meals.
"We went today, and we were able to secure a temporary permit until we have more clear steps of action," said Amanda Veasey, director of One Love Longview.
It’s a fix that will last until the end of the year. Veasey said with this new temporary and limited food permit, One Love Longview will be able to distribute meals they receive from other places or sponsors.
"An hour before lunch was to be served on Tuesday this week, we had learned that the food that was donated would be able to be served," she said. "We’ve been serving lunch at the same time at this location since Sept. 7, 2022."
Being told that would no longer be the case came as a surprise to her.
"We’ve never had a permit before. So it was sort of sprung on us for that day to look like it did," Veasey said.
In a statement to CBS19, the Longview Environmental Health Division said, "while the distribution of pre-packaged food is allowed without a permit, health permits are required for all establishments that prepare and offer food to the public."
A city spokesperson clarified that pre-packaged food refers to individually sealed and pre-packaged chips, Lunchables, and other food items of that nature.
When One Love Longview couldn't serve food on Tuesday, Buster’s Fried Chicken – just down the street – opened their doors to feed dozens of people. Owner Teresa Kimble said it was the right thing to do.
"All of our clients walked down the street. We all walked down together, and she served them so they would be able to get a hot meal," Veasey said. "That support meant the world to us."
Kimble said her restaurant staff just started pulling food out and getting it ready for everybody.
"And we met our goal to get it to them and got everybody fed in a timely manner," Kimble said.
The issue of where One Love Longview will be in the future is anyone’s guess as the building the nonprofit operates out of is getting old.
"There’s no need to put thousands of dollars’ worth of work into this building to just get a permit," Veasey said.