Questions On Feeding The Homeless Arise After Health Department Asks Cookeville Civic Group To Comply

Is feeding the homeless as a non-profit illegal without a permitted kitchen?

That is a question that the Cookeville’s Recovery Kitchen faces. The Putnam County Health Department issued a cease and desist against the organization stating hot food cannot be served until the kitchen becomes compliant.

Executive Director Lynda Loftis said she believes the ruling is a misinterpretation of the law sited in the order.

“We communicated that with the health department,” Loftis said. “They are agreeing to work with Justin and Melissa (Veals) with the Recovery Kicthen to find a solution so we can get a work around but in the end if we don’t get a permitted kitchen, it’s going to be an issue.”

Recovery Kitchen is a branch of addiction services non-profit Independence Again. According to Loftis, the rule the Health Department referred to pertains to food service establishments. Loftis said as a civic group, Recover Kitchen should not be required to have a permitted kitchen.

“We are a civic organization just like a church would be exempt, a civic organization would be exempt,” Loftis said. “Plus, we’re preparing the food from volunteers, so we don’t have any paid staff, and we’re presenting them to a population that has been informed this has been prepared in a home style kitchen.”

Loftis said Recovery Kitchen now working to possibly find a food truck to continue its mission. Loftis said in the mean time, the organization will try to work with local churches to distribute food.

“We have no plans to discontinue serving the homeless,” Loftis said. “We will comply with the health department’s request to the best of our abilities and provide non-hot meals until we can find something to work with them on.”

Loftis said the assumption is a community member reported the operation to the health department.