Food for life ministry denied help

NORFOLK, VA - Kenneth Basnight began feeding needy seniors with a handful of grapes, a box of bread and some meats in the back seat of his car.

His "Golden age Food for Life" ministry was so efficient, an agency receiving millions from taxpayers started calling on him to feed folks they couldn't help, but when he asked for some financial help they said "no."

Basnight says, "Senior citizens are starving, and I have an organization that takes food and puts it on the table."

And so, the "Good Samaritan"  took his crusade to the streets, feeding homebound seniors, poor, hungry and in need.  "Winter time is coming and we need to get something going right now. This is not about politics or money."

But it is about money. Basnight needs that money to grow his "Golden Age Food For Life Ministry," and is asking for some financial help from Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, the largest agency serving Seniors in Hampton Roads.  

Basnight thinks he deserves this because Senior Services has referred to Basnight 50-65 seniors this year, and got a call last week to help a woman in Ocean View.

WAVY.com was with Basnight as he loaded up his car with food he'd scrounged up and took to a hungry senior in Ocean View, and for that he got nothing from Senior Services, "not a dime...not a penny... not one penny."

Not one penny from Senior Services, who WAVY.com discovered from it's annual budget gets $7-million a year from federal, state and local taxpayers for a wide range of services, including the delivery of hot meals to eligible clients.

Senior Services Chief Executive John Skirven oversees that $7-million budget.

WAVY.com wanted to know why Skirven won't help Basnight financially, especially after repeatedly referring people to him.

Skirven claims government standards regulate the 170,000 hot meals his agency delivers each year. 

In contrast, Basnight delivers non-perishables and frozen foods that don't require higher government standards. Skirven said, "...state and federal regulations require [them] to spend the money on the meals that do comply with those regulations."

Basnight does not buy that, and says Skirven could help if he wanted to, but chooses not to.

WAVY.com asked Skirven to at least pay for the gas he used to get to Ocean View. Skirven responded, "I know it sounds like common sense, that we should be able to do it, but we can't and I'm sorry. We have to meet regulations."

Basnight wonders why they keep sending him people if he doesn't meet their "requirements."

Skirven told us, "If  Basnight can't respond. He needs to let us know,  and we'll continue to look for other community resources."

WAVY.com  wants to help Kenneth Basnight continue the work he's doing. If you would like to contribute financially or donate food for seniors in need CALL: 200-8489.