Dear Editor,
As a Food Not Cops volunteer, I was saddened to see the assumptions that Sam Bliss put forth in his opinion piece. It reads as though he thinks so little of us who work there that he accuses us of not wanting people to “have to” interact with members of our homeless community.
I’ve worked in downtown restaurants for 10 years. In that time these establishments have put on food drives, volunteer days and charity events. I myself not only cooked for Food Not Cops for years, but brought leftover food from catering events to their homebase and to the lunch location.
But more importantly, we know these folks as well. We may turn down the window blinds sometimes so guests can’t gawk at someone experiencing a sad or traumatic event, but we refuse to turn a blind eye to the suffering our city, and our country, is experiencing. We defend these community members against those who come to Vermont expecting utopia.
It’s disappointing that our local chapter of an anarchist group is more focused on a simple request than they are on working WITH us so that we don’t need to keep spending that money on a sheriff to lurk around.
Sam, stop into some downtown restaurants and maybe you can make connections. The place I work at would be happy to donate food on a regular basis. I bet if you spoke to some of us fellow Burlingtonians, you will find the solidarity you seek.
Janet Crackerman
Burlington
