For they were hungry

An Arizona woman was arrested for feeding the homeless. Now, she’s fighting a legal battle to preserve everyone’s right to help

Photography for Deseret Magazine

An elderly woman in a floral shirt serving food at an outdoor event during sunset, with people and cars in the background.
Close-up of an elderly woman with gray hair, looking to her left during golden hour.
Two elderly women hugging and smiling outdoors on a sunny day, with a chain-link fence on one side and a parking lot with cars and a few people in the background.
Group of people standing in line outdoors, some looking at phones, others chatting, next to a table with food, in a parking lot with a fence, vehicles, and distant mountains in the background.

Norma Thornton, left, says a prayer with those assembled to receive a free meal she has prepared in Bullhead City, Ariz., on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023.

An elderly woman with a ponytail sits at a dining table in a dimly lit kitchen, wearing a colorful floral blouse. There is a bag of red onions on the table. The background includes a wooden china cabinet, a chandelier, and various household items.
Person holding a paper plate with fried chicken, bread roll, baked potato, and greens at a buffet or outdoor meal setting.
An elderly woman standing outdoors during sunset, with palm trees and a lake or pond in the background.
An elderly woman with gray hair tied back, wearing a colorful floral blouse, is chopping onions on a cutting board in a warmly lit kitchen.
Three women and two small dogs outdoors, with one woman holding a dog, in a setting with a chain-link fence and mountains in the background during the evening.
People standing in line outside during sunset, some with hats and pets, in an outdoor area with cars parked nearby, mountains in the background.