Norma Thornton, 78, of Arizona, was arrested for feeding the homeless in a public park in Bullhead City, Arizona. Thornton had been feeding the homeless in the city for the past four years. In March, she was arrested and charged with violating a city ordinance passed in 2021 that prohibited the sharing of food for “charitable purposes” in a public park. Charges against her were dropped in July, and she was warned that she would go to jail if she shared food again.
According to a Bullhead City official, a Food Sharing Event ordinance was passed in February 2021 to limit food-sharing events that frequently result in extensive littering, so that city maintenance staff will not have to spend extra time and effort cleaning it up. The ordinance also required people to obtain a permit if they wanted to prepare food in a public park for a “non-social gathering” for “charitable purposes.”
Norma claims that her arrest makes no sense to her. When some officers drove up to her, checked her ID, and told her she had been arrested and would have to appear in court, she initially thought it was a joke. In an interview with CBN News, she stated that she had never encountered any official problems before, aside from some passersby hurling insults at her. However, it became a serious issue this time when she was criminally charged for feeding the homeless for reasons she didn’t understand.
The park was the best option because there was water and restrooms for everyone. She always cleans it up after feeding them and doesn’t take more than an hour. Norma would pray with them before giving them food. They would occasionally remind her if she forgot to pray because she was too busy. “There is no reason on the planet for anyone to go hungry in this country.” Our world is brimming with food and luxuries. Why should anyone starve? ” She said in a tearful tone.
She explains that they (the homeless) are people, that they are people, that they are important to me, and that people need to understand that. She is currently fighting the lawsuit in an alleyway where a man has allowed her to use his private property to distribute food to the homeless. She says it was dehumanizing to see them sitting on the ground with food plates in a place with no restrooms or running water.
When asked what motivated her to help the homeless, she says, “The number one motivation is my Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Father.” We are repeatedly told that the first and most important commandment is to love. Love thy neighbor as thyself. Love your neighbor. “What you do to the least of my people, you do to me,” he said several times. That is essentially my motivation.”
When asked if she would stop feeding the homeless five days a week, she said she would not. “No, I will not; regardless of what they say, they are wrong and I am right.” One of the ways I know I’m right is that I prayed about it, and every time I’m in doubt, something happens that makes a box of food, a bag of food, or whatever it is I need appear.” She is grateful to God and the unknown individuals who leave food and other items on her doorstep. She claims she is simply doing her duty.
“And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31 (NKJV) She is grateful to God and those unknown persons who would drop food and other items at her doorsteps. She says, she is just stepping up for what she has been called for.And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31 (NKJV)