Tom Hanson: Needy fed, but some should not be at Cafe

The Cafe of Life has honorable intentions. Each weekday it serves countless hot meals to less fortunate people under the banyan tree outside Bonita Springs Community Hall.

But is the Cafe of Life feeding the truly needy? Or is it just feeding a problem?

For years, community members have complained about vagrancy in the Old 41 area. They dream of revitalization, yet they are reminded of life’s pitfalls each day starting at 10 a.m.

Sue Tracy, a Cafe of Life board member, served up a plate of seafood soufflé and corn on Friday morning. To qualify, all anyone needed to do is sign a name.

It didn’t matter if they had a job and just didn’t go to work. It didn’t matter if they spent their money on cell phones. It didn’t matter if they drove a shiny new pickup, all of which I witnessed.

“We’re not here to judge,” Tracy said. “We are only here to help.”

But with diners such as Tim Jones you didn’t need to judge. All you needed to do was smell.

On Thursday, Jones, 45, smelled of alcohol after enjoying one of the Cafe of Life’s daily delicacies. He admitted to having just finished off a cold one, but not on the property — that would be against the rules. Jones also admitted that drinking was the reason he couldn’t make it to work.

“You could say I got a little too drunk last night,” said Jones, sporting a FUBU jersey and a worn-out baseball cap.

Yes, Jones has a job. He’s not homeless. He’s just hungry. So why not a free meal?

“I don’t get paid until tomorrow,” said Jones as he pulled out a penny-filled pile of change. “This is all of the money that I have until tomorrow.”

Jones didn’t have a good answer to why buying beer was more important than providing food for his teenage son.

On Friday, another able-bodied man stood at a picnic table filling a bag with day-old bread. The man, who would give his name only as Brian, said he had a job but couldn’t get to work because he didn’t have a ride.

Brian admitted he didn’t truly need the handout.

“They’re just going to throw it out,” Brian said. “I really don’t need the food. But my dog will like it.”

Brian even agreed that the Cafe of Life may be hurting more than it’s helping.

“You may have a point that this is creating more of a problem,” he said.

While you sympathize with the mothers with small children who truly need a hot meal, you have to wonder if this charitable cause is creating more dependency.

A 10-year-old Hispanic girl even admitted that her family has food at home but still comes to the Cafe of Life on a regular basis.

Your heart does go out to the children as they sift through a pile of hand-me-down clothes as if it’s Macy’s. And you do have to feel for the migrant workers who recently got laid off.

But the Cafe of Life lacks direction. It’s now asking to rent the Community Hall on a full-time basis. But does the city want to contribute to the problem?

Marietta Bala, the chairwoman for the Cafe of Life, said that while 95 percent of the diners are in need, there are a few people who are taking advantage of the situation

And it’s these bad eggs who are spoiling a well-intended meal.

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Tom Hanson’s e-mail address is: tahanson@bonitanews.com