Jasper — At a special called meeting of the White Springs town council on Tuesday, Feb. 26, the board voted to disassociate the H.O.P.E. food bank from under the ruling of the town. The food bank will continue as a separate entity under the direction of Richard Marshall, who plans to rename the program White Springs New Hope Food Pantry and set it up as a 501c3 non-profit organization, using the same volunteers, the same director and the same food services he has been using.

At the last council meeting it was brought out there were three unpaid invoices to Catholic Charities. Town manager Bob Farley said on Feb. 11, he received a phone call from Mike Williams of PotashCorp White Springs inquiring about the unpaid invoices. Farley said he checked with finance and to their knowledge there were no outstanding invoices.

On Feb. 12, Farley said he received a fax from Suzanne Edwards, CEO of Catholic Charities, showing three outstanding invoices totaling $225.91, dating from April to November, 2012. Farley said he would delve into the matter and get the invoices paid as soon as possible. He also said Edwards told him there was a media inquiry about the matter to the Florida Department of Agriculture (FDA).

On Feb. 13, Farley and councilman Richard Marshall, director of the H.O.P.E. Food Bank, went over the three invoices and authorized payment to Catholic Charities.

On Feb. 14, Farley said he received a call from Kenny Altman from the FDA stating there was a media inquiry about the town's 501c3 certification.

“I told him I did not believe the town of White Springs was a 501c3 organization,” said Farley. “He told me that basically that's all he was looking into.”

Farley said he called Edwards and explained his conversation with the FDA and she said if the town was not a 501c3 she could not honor the signed contract with the town, and they needed to cease and desist purchasing food from the Gateway pantry.

“She also agreed to have Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry service White Springs in the future if that's what council would like,” Farley said.

Farley offered a recommendation that the town stop working with Catholic Charities food pantry since the town is not a 501c3. He then recommended that they either invite Catholic Charities into the town with their mobile pantry or do away with the program entirely.

“However, and I want to stipulate this,” he said. “There is a need for a food pantry in the town of White Springs. No if's, and's or but's about it.”

Mayor Helen Miller asked Farley what actions would be required to re-start the Catholic Charities program and Farley said they simply needed to step up to the plate and ask them to add White Springs to their stops.

Farley, being new to the town, explained that he heard the H.O.P.E. Food pantry was a stop-gap measure because Catholic Charities could not serve the town of White Springs. In the interim since that time Farley said PotashCorp White Springs gave Catholic Charities the funds to purchase a new vehicle.

Marshall said, “First and foremost, it has been an honor to serve our citizens.”

He went on to say the H.O.P.E. food bank has been in operation for over a year and there were never any questions or problems. The three invoices, he said, were misplaced and that is why they didn’t get paid.

Marshall said he only got a small portion of USDA food from Catholic Charities and it was only because he ran out of food and had to make an emergency run to Catholic Charities in Lake City.

“Over the last year we have disseminated over 250,000 pounds of food,” Marshall said. “Five to 10 percent of that came from Catholic Charities.”

Marshall said Catholic Charities in the past had been unable to provide enough food for the need in White Springs and they were only in town intermittently.

“So, we reached out farther to Gainesville, which did not require us to have a 501c3,” Marshall said.

Marshall said if someone had let him know about the three unpaid invoices he would have made certain they got paid immediately, but no one ever called him.

“We have been impeccable with our accountability, fundraising, everything was accountable for,” said Marshall.

Marshall said it is up to the council whether or not to sever ties with Catholic Charities. He said, basically, they don’t come often enough to handle the need in White Springs.

“We have a constant need,” Marshall said. “We have people going without food, living paycheck to paycheck, seniors with very little social security checks, and if they do get food stamps it may total $27-$40 bucks.”

Marshall said the town saw a need, addressed it by opening up the H.O.P.E. food bank and did it gladly. The allegations of misdeeds against him, he said, appalled him.

“What does it take to prove one’s integrity?” Marshall asked. “I’m a minister of the gospel, I’m a foster parent, I’ve been in this town all my life, except for when I was in the military, and I come in and I give. I’m bonded and I’m a licensed businessman, and yet, three invoices go missing and no one can ask me.”

Councilman Dennis Price said, “I admire Richard for what he’s done. He’s put a big effort into it. I know it’s all heartfelt.”

Price said if Marshall wants to continue the food bank he is fine with it, but the town needs to back out of it. Marshall agreed and further stated the town should not be involved in any of the H.O.P.E. programs, but instead, get back to the business of running the city’s water, wastewater, sewer, and garbage services.

A motion was made, seconded and approved for the town to sever ties to the H.O.P.E. food bank.

More discussion was held to determine if the town wanted Catholic Charities to provide food from their mobile food bank and the board voted 4-1 that they did not want it, with Mayor Helen Miller being the only one voting for it.

It was noted the county-owned building being used for the food pantry will no longer be used by Marshall and his food ministry. Farley said the town would send a letter to the county advising them they were no longer using the building. Miller said the contents of the building would be removed within the next 30 days and they will be curtailing the phone and Internet service at the building.

Farley was advised there was a remaining balance in the food pantry’s account of $150, after which the board approved those funds will go toward early termination penalties for the phone and Internet services. The vote was 4-1 with Marshall voting against.

At the Hamilton County Commission meeting on Tuesday, March 5, Marshall asked the board if it would be possible for him to temporarily use the current food bank building.

“If we’re able to continue in that building we can provide our services to the county, such as your SERT team,” Marshall said. “We have a donor who gave us a 15-passenger van and we had a donor who gave us a trailer to haul the food. We’re going to provide a mobile pantry. That building would be our staging area.”

The food, Marshall said, would be delivered the following day after receiving it. Additionally, in emergency situations, the mobile food pantry would be available to areas of concern.

Commission Chair Randy Ogburn said he thought there was an interlocal agreement with the town of White Springs for use of that building. It was decided to place the issue on the agenda for more discussion at the next board meeting.

The H.O.P.E. fuel bank and after school programs were also discussed at the town council meeting. The fuel bank, it was determined, had no costs, as it was all done by volunteers. The after school program and summer program were funded by grants and donations, according to Miller. She advised the board she had an attorney working pro bono on setting up a non-profit that would oversee the school programs and separate accounts would be set up for them.

Farley said he admired all the many volunteers in the community, but he suggested he would call the Florida League of Cities for advice and guidelines on how to set up volunteer programs. The board agreed.