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STRUGGLING drivers have been left outraged after they were hit with $40 parking tickets while trying to access a food bank.
Residents slammed the city’s parking restrictions as “unreasonable” and claimed they would hamper charity efforts.
Drivers have complained of being hit with $40 tickets while visiting a food bank[/caption]
Volunteers and visitors at The Sharing Place Food Centre in Orillia, Canada, have complained of being slapped with penalty charges while collecting or dropping off food.
The $40 charges are reportedly due to the restrictions on Dufferin Street, where the food bank is housed.
There is a parking lot, but users claim that high demand for food support means it’s consistently over capacity.
This means they have to park on the street instead, leaving them open to enforcement.
Parking is currently totally banned on one side of the road.
The other side offers only limited spaces between 7am and 6pm.
John, a local resident, told Orillia Matters: “The number of people using the food bank has skyrocketed, and the parking lot just can’t handle the overflow.
“It’s forcing people onto the street, and the parking restrictions there are just unreasonable.
“It’s not even a busy road.
“A $40 ticket can be devastating for someone already struggling financially.”
John reported seeing some people “in tears” after being handed a ticket.
He added: “Some controlled overflow parking on the street or even at the nearby McKinnell Square Park could solve this.
“It’s a simple fix.
“Let’s show empathy and compassion for those who need help the most.
“We should be supporting them, not ticketing them.
“This seems like an easy one to fix.”
Chris Peacock, the executive director of The Sharing Place, confirmed that his team was in touch with both the city council and the site’s neighbors to try and come up with a solution.
Melissa Gowanlock, communications manager for the city, said that the parking restrictions were brought in following complaints from locals and were designed to maintain traffic flow and public safety.
But she did commit to trying to find a solution that doesn’t punish food bank users.
She said: “We recognize the vital role that agencies such as the Sharing Place play in supporting individuals and families.
“[We] are committed to working collaboratively to find practical solutions that balance access, safety, and community needs.”
