News

Volunteers told to leave South Station for feeding and clothing the homeless

BOSTON, Mass. — A group of volunteers at South Station was told to leave after they were found feeding and handing out warm clothes to people in need.

A security guard at the station tried to stop the group as they were trying to serve the homeless, claiming new security rules prohibit them from giving out food - eve though they're been doing this for years.

The security guard, who works for a private company hired by South Station then called transit police to help remove the volunteers.

The volunteer group, called Quincy C.O.P.E, recorded the whole situation on video, claiming they were doing nothing wrong and that they do this every Thursday.

"(The security guard) said you can't do this and we were shocked of course because we have been doing this, this is our third year," said Meg Sullivan, a member of Quincy C.O.P.E. "We graciously resisted, we were just stunned."

C.O.P.E volunteers were told by the security guard at one point that they could serve the food they brought outside the station. The only problem was that temperatures were below freezing that day.

"We were so excited because we had some great food from Gennaro's and they love the hot meals," said Suzanne Featherstone, a Quincy C.O.P.E member. "I didn't want to get in trouble because I like going to South Station. I didn't know what her authority was."

Sullivan tells Boston 25 News they were told by the guard they needed a food permit if they were serving food and since they didn't have one they needed to get rid of it.

After a while, transit police responded to the situation and, allowed the volunteers to stay.

The transit police superintendent told Boston 25 News in a statement:

"I believe there may have been a miscommunication or misunderstanding with the private security company who are in South Station. I have spoken with the management company's General Manager and the matter is resolved."

Transit police also called the volunteers to further show they're support of the work the volunteers have been doing.

"He was very, very supportive," said Featherstone.

Quincy C.O.P.E is already packing up their donations for next week. If you would like to contribute to their efforts, you can request to join their Facebook group by clicking on this link.