Joseph Munday has been holding food drives at his marijuana collectives and dispensaries in Shasta County for the past month, all in an effort to help feed the homeless this holiday season. They have collected enough food to feed a family of four for an entire month. Munday told Action News, "We're not about political gain by doing this, I don't gain anything. The only thing I gain is a bigger heart."
After seeing, Redding Loaves and Fishes' commercials on television, Munday decided, that was the organization he would like to give the food to. He gave the director a call. "He was really excited about it, he made my day, he made me feel good you know. Then he called me back, about an hour later, and said him and his pastor prayed on it and they are not going to accept our items from our food drive," explained Munday.
Redding Loaves and Fishes Director Chris Solberg explained his reason behind his decision, "Immediately, I felt a conviction on my heart that this was wrong and started praying about it. It just grew stronger and stronger that this simply wasn't the right thing to do to accept food from a marijuana dispensary." He added "It's the Lord who provides. We're not interested in validating or lifting marijuana co-ops. And the only reason I believe why the food is donated is people get a discount on their marijuana, it's not the intensions of honoring God."
Munday claims there is a larger situation at hand, which is feeding the hungry. The food instead will go to the Anderson Cottonwood Christian Association. As for Redding Loaves and Fishes, it is still in need of food and money donations.
