St. Louis police respond after crowd swarms church for rumored food vouchers

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | Aug 15, 2012 | staff reports

[kevcol]

ST. LOUIS • Police were called to a church in St. Louis this morning for crowd control after an unexpectedly large crowd gathered on rumors of applying for $500 food vouchers.
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Two ambulances arrived to treat a diabetic woman as well as an older woman who fell in the street. Police had to put crime scene tape across the front door of the church to discourage people from trying to get in.

Some members of the crowd became irate after they were sold fake applications for the vouchers.

Several attendees said they had been waiting in line for their chance at the voucher since last night and as early as 4 a.m. Once the church doors opened, the crowd rushed in.

Attendees were given applications for UPside Visa cards and were told they would receive a debit card in the mail that they must keep activated for $1 a month. The $500 food vouchers would arrive along with the cards, Walker said.
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Church volunteer Mary Moore was surprised at the response.

"They rushed the building so hard, that (organizers) had to shut it down," she said. "Word of mouth got around and it got out of proportion."

Sonya Gray, 49, of Overland arrived at 8 a.m. and decided against submitting an application after seeing the crowd.

"It's out of control," she said. "Nothing got organized. This is crazy."

Carla Webb, 50, of St. Louis, arrived at 7 a.m. and submitted an application. She was frustrated by the way organizers handled the event.

"They've got it totally disorganized," she said.

[ArmstedFragg]

The market for free stuff is infinite.

[ridesthemiles]

They are already on Welfare for 5 generations, & they want more-—and more-—and more.

[Poundstone]

PING