The city of Lakeland is in talks about further criminalizing homelessness and poverty as well as cracking down on the organizations who step in to help their neighbors.

Private citizens and organizations have been handing out food to anyone in need for years in public parks like Munn Park, Webster Park and Dobbins Park with the support of the community. These organizations are providing hundreds of meals and drinks, free clothing, hygiene and personal supplies, books and art supplies, and more to anyone in need in Lakeland.

People will often walk up to tables and give kind words and even offer to come back with donations. Community members support these programs and it’s their encouragement that keeps them going. These organizations are led by local citizens who got started because everyday people are coming up and asking for help.

It's a misconception that the only people who need help are unhoused. There are working people who can’t afford lunch, elderly people on fixed income, families and children who have run out of benefits for the month, people with disabilities, and people who just find themselves needing some extra help that day.

All of the groups who are providing mutual aid and services to their community are well within their rights to do so. As noted by the city attorney in the linked Ledger article, public sharing of food is legally considered a protected First Amendment right that's strongly protected in places like public parks and sidewalks. There's been many court cases establishing that limiting the ability to provide free meals to the public is a violation of free speech and free association.

If you support this kind of work and enjoy living in a community that is made up of active and compassionate people, please send a letter to the Lakeland City Commission and the Mayor telling them that you do not want further criminalization of homelessness and you do not want laws passed preventing churches, organizations, or private citizens from helping their neighbors and community.