Century Continues to Suffer from the Storm at Hands of Officials

When politics takes precedence over public welfare, God gets pissed.

I can promise that what is happening in Century has caught God's attention, whether you believe in Him or not. Officials will be held responsible for keeping Francesca Yabraian and Foundations Unites National Commander Brian Staggs from helping.

The candidate running against Representative Michelle Salzman and the non-profit leader have fought for days to get food delivered to Century, only for city officials to halt the move.

“It’s clearly political,” Staggs said to PensacolaCitizen.org today.

(Photo: Francesca Yabraian Facebook Post)

Yabraian, an experienced emergency manager, said that because Stokes is “the one that has all the connections,” the two made real progress together in less than two days.

“We convinced the Food Giant to take these Walmart pallets, and we got the local church to take them as well,” Yabraian said. “Then we were told by the town manager, David Murzin, they don't need it."

The candidate asked two very important questions: "How can more pantries not need more free food, and Michelle Salzman's bringing stuff in, and that’s fine, but why can’t she?

Does Salzman not want area voters to see Yabrian’s efforts?

Ask yourself that.

Yabrian said officials didn't name Century among the towns needing assistance, which motivated her even more.

“I'm posting on my page; everyone's like, we need help, we need food,” she said. “These just, these are poor areas, as you know, and these people posted on my page, I need help.”

(Photo: Francesca Yabraian Facebook Post)

Stokes said at least three times in the interview with PensacolaCitizen.org how another Escambia County official dropped the call they were on, showing the national commander's disbelief as he told this undeniable story, which only gets worse.

“They're maxing out today at around 11,000 meals, but they say there is no need,” Staggs said.

While officials kept food out of Century, local food needs are in the thousands, which is why Foundations Unites will provide 1,000 meals in the region tomorrow.

As for tracking needs, officials will not get away with this obvious deception, and Foundation Unites will add a help-ticket feature on the website to track all Century citizens who reach out for help.

“It's a fighting ground for us while we're being told, oh, there's no need,” Stokes said.