There are many questions unanswered after the city of El Paso stated the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger food bank was not in compliance with federal funding.
A big question is whether the food bank had to digitize their records or not and they had no problem pointing fingers.
CBS4 spent the day calling the city and the food bank to get clear answers but neither responded to our calls.
On Friday, representatives from the City and El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank met to address the CARES Act funding.
Both sides engaged in discussion in order to respond to food insecurity in our community.
These discussions will continue in the coming days, a news release from the city said.
We have never seen any documentation," said Nicole Ferrini, Community and Human Development Director.
"After begging them to come out and see the work we’re doing. To please review these documents as the contracts require they have not done so," said EPFH CEO Susan Goodell.
The city says they have to show proof of all the people they've helped.
The food bank responded by forklifting out boxes containing portions of documents the city was requiring and claimed the city had made no efforts to see them.
About 24 hours ago the food bank was ready to talk on camera but after they met with the city we were told Goodell was in closed-door meetings all day.
She claims the city has not been clear on the requirements to receive the COVID-19 funding.
"That is not what they’ve said in meetings with us outside that press conference," said Goodell.
reporter: "So they were saying something different to the public and saying something privately that was different?"
"What they said to us privately was that we had to digitize that documentation and I can’t explain why they said in a press conference that we didn’t have to," said Goddell.
CBS4 asked the city if there was any proof of attempts on their parts to view the documents and if there was any truth to the allegations Goodell made.
After several one-sided emails, CBS4 was finally told by the city that would ask.
The food bank told us Goddell might be available for an interview next week.
We have not heard back from the city on a timeline.
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