A chef in San Antonio was fined earlier this month for doing what she has done every Tuesday for the past six years: feeding the homeless.
Joan Cheever was cited for serving food out of her personal vehicle instead of her commercially license food truck, and was ordered to pay $2,000.
Cheever is the owner of The Chowtrain food truck, and prepares the food for the homeless inside the vehicle. She then transfers the food to catering pans, and brings them to four locations around the city in her personal vehicle.
Police officers often recognise Cheever's vehicle and offer a greeting, and occasionally take a plate. On April 7, however, she received a colder response.
"I was serving a hot meal to the homeless downtown and four bicycle police officers came up, like they have many times over the six years, but that night they didn't have a happy face on," Cheever told ABC News. "I said, 'What's the problem?' and they said, 'You.'"
The chef was cited for "failing to adhere to long-standing regulations that are in place to ensure public health and safety," according to the city of San Antonio. She asked the officers to give her a warning instead of the hefty fine, but they refused.
"The citation was issued for serving food from a personal vehicle, not the mobile food truck that Ms. Cheever is permitted to operate," city spokeswoman Di Galvan explained. The food certification is not transferrable from one vehicle to another.
The fine has not stopped Cheever's activities, however. She served food from her personal vehicle the following two Tuesdays, and said she has received backing from the community.
"I came back to the park the following Tuesday and was met with 100 people who had candles and signs [of support]," she said. "This isn't only about The Chowtrain. It's about every nonprofit and every person who wants to do a good thing, but are intimidated by the $2,000 fine and possible arrest. So we're just going to keep rolling on."
