Chef ticketed, facing $2,000 fine for feeding homeless in San Antonio

Cliff Snipes, right, homeless in San Antonio for two year, shows his gratitude to Joan Cheever, for feeding him at Maverick Park. Two weeks ago Cheever was ticketed for serving meals without the proper permit. Tuesday, April 21, 2015. less Cliff Snipes, right, homeless in San Antonio for two year, shows his gratitude to Joan Cheever, for feeding him at Maverick Park. Two weeks ago Cheever was ticketed for serving meals without the proper permit. ... more Photo: Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Chef ticketed, facing $2,000 fine for feeding homeless in San Antonio 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Joan Cheever, founder of the nonprofit mobile food truck known as the Chow Train, was cited last Tuesday by San Antonio police officers for feeding the homeless in Maverick Park.

Cheever has been serving restaurant-quality meals to the city's homeless population for the past 10 years, and has been profiled on Rachel Ray's cooking show for her charitable efforts.

Over the years, police officers have passed by and waved as she fed homeless people, but last Tuesday night four bike-patrol officers stopped in the park and gave Cheever a ticket that carries a potential fine of $2,000. Cheever has a food permit for her mobile truck, but she was cited for transporting and serving the food from a vehicle other than that truck.

Cheever is scheduled to go before Municipal Court on June 23, but she remained defiant after receiving the citation, arguing that under the 1999 Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, she has a right to serve food to the homeless because she considers it a free exercise of her religion.

According to the restaurant's Facebook page, Cheever will be holding a "candlelight vigil" at Maverick Park Tuesday night to raise awareness for the incident.

ggarcia@express-news.net