DOVER, Del. - Wednesday was the last day the Dover Elks Lodge will operate a booth at the farmer's market, saying they were essentially pushed aside. Now, they are scrambling to find another location after it became clear to them they are no longer welcomed at the farmer's market.
The Elks has been working in conjunction with Code Purple, an organization that assists the homeless in winter months.
The elks had been at the farmer's market since June. Two months ago they were moved to the back of the market by a representative of Downtown Dover Partnership, which runs the farmers market. Then, last week they were told the homeless were being disruptive to the vendors and customers. The Elks say it is not so much they were forced to leave the farmers market location, but the situation became intolerable to the people they are trying help.
"Today, for some reason, the homeless were told not to walk through the market and they had to walk all the way around," said Kathy King, Exalted Ruler, Elks Lodge 1903. That, the elks say, is not reasonable since some people are not in a condition to walk that far.
"Some of these people, like the man we got insurance for, he has a fractured foot," said Yvonne Heisler, Elks Lodge 1903. For him to have had to walk all the way around, he probably just wouldn't have come," Heisler says they were also told they would be advised of another day and time they could set up their booth, but that was a week ago, and they have not been given an alternative.
"We applied for a grant and we supply the food and everything, and toiletries and socks and all that kind of stuff to the people. We want to continue the program, and so now we have to find another place to do it," said King.
Heisler and King say they have not heard of any trouble caused by the homeless.
Downtown Dover Partnership told WBOC they would not have a comment on this issue today
