Eight-year-old Mackenzie Case hugged her mom’s arm, steadied her nerves and told the Gainesville Commission that she thought they weren’t being very nice.
She was the first to speak at Thursday night’s commission meeting and said that the commission should repeal the 130-meal limit the city placed on Gainesville soup kitchens.
“Others who don’t have money should be able to eat, too,” she said in an interview. “It’s not fair that people get turned away every day.”
Mackenzie wore a white T-shirt that said, “Feed all who are hungry,” written in Crayola marker.
Mackenzie’s mother, Victoria Mena, said her daughter was signed up to speak about the meal limit at the Oct. 21 commission meeting, but they had to leave because they had another obligation. Mena said her daughter left crying.
Her mom said that it was Mackenzie’s decision to join a coalition to end the meal limit and to speak at Thursday’s meeting.
“The fact that this is her idea is mind-blowing to me still,” she said. “The fact that she has such compassion for people so early — it’s just inspiring.”
