UPDATE:
COURT DEADLINE
If First Church Media refuses to drop their lawsuit against Paul it moves to Federal Court this week. This means more money out of Paul's pocket ($15,000 to defend himself so far). And more money the church is spending to a sue a 25 year food bank volunteer that built the food bank they continue to distribute from - money that would be better used serving the food insecure in our community.

ATTENTION: Citizens of Delco & congregation/supporters of First United Methodist Church of Media/AKA First Church

First United Methodist Church of Media/the church board and Pastor Laurie Ann Rookard STILL have not dropped their $50,000 civil suit against 25 year volunteer Paul Mickle. Many of you know him as “Mr. Media Food Bank” or “The Food Bank Guy.” He has been a beloved community icon for 25 years.

The suit initiated and continued solely by the church is costing both sides time, money and resources that could be going to fill the food bank shelves. Paul has paid out of his own pocket to cover court costs and legal fees for this extended litigation. TO DATE .. THIS HAS COST PAUL $15,000! He VOLUNTEERED his time and went above and beyond to fight food insecurity locally for 25 years and now instead of being rewarded for selfless community service - he is paying for it.

FEW QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED ... What funds are being used by the church to sue Paul? Is the money donated food bank funds? Is the money church congregation funds? Is the money restricted funds designated for something else?

The church has not only sued Paul for $50,000 but also demanded he give them his personal Facebook page - Media Food Bank. If he wouldn’t turn over his page they demanded he delete it. He offered to rename the page but the church refused this option. (The page was his personal property started and managed solely by him for 13 years.) One would think this would have been protected under his constitutional rights as he used the page as his personal blog to update the community on his work at the Food Bank. A demand was issued to delete the facebook page.

The church has claimed “unfair competition” in their lawsuit and charges Paul with “civil conspiracy.” So does the church think they are the only ones who can feed those facing food insecurity? Beyond disappointing.

Per court order Paul changed his Food Bank name to Delaware County Food Bank aka Delco Food Bank. In Paul's lawyer response you will see e-mail evidence from 2011 that Paul was the one who named it Media Food Bank. The church refused the name and used multiple different names over the years.

First Church has actively blocked Paul’s ability to fundraise for his new food bank and even asked their supporters in an email to report his page thus stopping him from getting approved for electronic donations. (see page 11 of Paul’s lawyers response and exhibit F pages 22 and 23.)

As a result, he literally received no donations during this time until our non profit jumped in to help fundraise post lawsuit filing. So why is the church still suing him? Again, what funds are they using to pay their lawyer?

Here is the link to the court filing.

ALL CASE DOCKET INFO IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE: https://delcopublicaccess.co.delaware.pa.us/api/api/v1/publicaccessdocuments/8ba0b8567748d122a8324322cc5b094bb7c1f61fd029f15b15406719af0ef9b4/download

MORE IMPORTANT IS PAUL’S LAWYER RESPONSE 11 PAGES OF FACTUALLY PROVEN RECEIPT AVAILABLE INFO: https://delcopublicaccess.co.delaware.pa.us/api/api/v1/publicaccessdocuments/9e050c37dd788e34606624717f8ce8fc7ecea1d3824743313b52db2e7d9759bc/download

MANY HAVE ASKED HOW THEY CAN HELP ... If you disagree with the church’s actions... MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD WITH OPTIONS BELOW!!!!

#1. ASAP call and email the church and first church’s food bank offices and demand they drop their suit.
610 566-3172
Info@firstchurch.org
484 352-2802
Info@mediafoodbank.org

#2. Share your email complaint about this matter on Facebook and tag both Media Food Bank@firstchurch and First United Methodist Church of Media

https://www.facebook.com/mediamethodist?mibextid=LQQJ4d (https://www.facebook.com/mediamethodist?mibextid=LQQJ4d)

Request First Church pay Paul’s legal fees and request the court issue an order allowing reinstatement of Paul’s Facebook page if that is even possible.

3. Share Paul’s story on social platforms, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok etc and tag news channels, reporters, Delco Times etc.

The question of constitutional rights being violated is a big piece of this. Delaware County Common Pleas Judge issued an order for the page deletion despite evidence provided by Paul's lawyer .. without explanation to the order it seems personal property and a citizen’s First Amendment rights are not protected.

#4. Donate to Paul’s legal fees as a show of community support for fighting the good fight.

#5. Follow, like and & share his new Facebook page for the new food bank: Food Bank of Delaware County/Delco Food Bank.

#6. Join the petition being launched by food bank clients, donors and volunteers against the church to review the church's finances and demand donation transparency. (message @FoodBankofDelawareCounty/DelcoFoodBank. )

Thank you on behalf of Paul, the volunteers and myself for all of your support and for helping one of the true dedicated leaders of non profit work in our community continue the worthy mission of battling food insecurity locally.

DONATIONS CAN ALSO BE MADE BY Venmo @bethejoyfoundation comment “legal fees” - all funds raised along with the funds raised to help support Paul's 2 new food bank locations will be delivered in separate checks along with $1000 in food & goods to help dill the shelves!

LEGAL FEES FOR 25 YEAR FOOD BANK LEADER

Help us help Paul fight his $50,000 lawsuit.