Northeast El Paso pantry has receives numerous complaints from neighbors - KFOX El Paso

Northeast El Paso pantry has receives numerous complaints from neighbors - KFOX El Paso

Northeast El Paso pantry has receives numerous complaints from neighbors

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — 

The owners of a food pantry called You Eat I Eat tells KFOX14 their mission is to feed anyone who walks into their doors.

Businesses nearby told KFOX14 that comes at a cost, because some of those clients are using their restrooms and even urinating outside their businesses.

Dolores Gutierrez is the owner of a counseling service in Northeast El Paso. She and several other business owners share a building with the nonprofit food pantry.

Gutierrez said every time the food pantry feeds the homeless, they come to her business to use her bathroom.

"I've had homeless come over here sick, throwing up, because she doesn't allow them to use her bathroom," said Gutierrez.

Gutierrez said she's even witnessed homeless people urinating on the walls outside.

You Eat I Eat director and founder Dorene Corothers said she had no idea her clients were going into her neighbors' businesses.

"I feel bad that they have been experiencing such difficulty because of the clients," said Corothers.

Volunteers at You Eat I Eat said there is a reason why they don’t allow everyone to use their restroom.

"We do have to be discerning about who we are going to let in because of past experiences," said Cathie Garner, who is a volunteer at You Eat I Eat.

KFOX14 reached out to the city, who said, “Because the food pantry gives out food, they must allow their clients to use the restrooms.”

Volunteers at You Eat I Eat said they will still be cautious.

"Right now, unless they have a genuine need, it's difficult to have an open door in regard to (the) public restroom," said Garner.

The city said they plan to look into the food pantry to ensure they follow the proper code regarding public restrooms.

The food pantry said they plan on informing all of their clients in the future to stay away from using the restrooms at nearby businesses.