By Kolby R. LaMarche

Burlingtonians are grappling with how to support their homeless population as a group providing free meals, Food Not Cops, previously in the Marketplace Garage, have relocated their operations to City Hall Park. 

The shift comes after Food Not Cops, which hands out free meals and essentials daily from 1 to 2 p.m., were asked to leave the Marketplace Garage following complaints from over 150 local businesses and a mid-July deadline, and $10,000, from the City Council. The move to City Hall Park was made without any city consultation or permits – the mayor’s office was not notified.  

Joining Food Not Cops in City Hall Park is People’s Kitchen, a nonprofit founded in 2012 providing dinners to those in need. In a recent four-minute video, the group noted a surge in demand, with nightly meal numbers jumping from 30 to 60-70 people, largely due, they say, to the end of the state’s motel voucher program bringing more hungry, unhoused individuals to the streets of Burlington. 

Currently serving three nights a week, People’s Kitchen is considering expanding to daily dinners and seeking support from local affinity groups. Both groups now operate in the same park, at the same spot, creating what they see as a central hub for food distribution. 

People’s Kitchen is also pushing bold ideas for the park. They are seeking the city to designate City Hall Park as a “sanctuary space,” where police wouldn’t be able to enforce what they call “anti-poverty ordinances.” The group argues this would protect their ability to serve meals without interference, but it’s unclear how city officials, residents, or even the police would respond to such a proposal. 

Additionally, the group shared potential plans to buy an inflatable castle to place in the park, claiming it would offer shelter for those sleeping or camping there and help keep the area cleaner. 

Below is a video update from People’s Kitchen provided by South-End resident and organizer FaReid Munarsyah: