A Volusia County couple has been told to pay up for doing what they say is their mission — to feed the homeless. But doing so in a public park is against the law in Daytona Beach, and now the couple is fighting to continue to feed some of the city's least fortunate residents.

Every Wednesday for the past year, Debbie and Chico Jimenez have been at Manatee Island Park along Beach Street, feeding the area’s homeless. It’s part of their Spreading the Word Without Saying a Word ministry.

The couple said it’s a small gesture that has to be done.

“When we’re out here if anyone is walking by or walking their dog they are welcome to come and we tell them, you know? We just want to help people,” said Debbie Jimenez.

Helping that comes at a price – literally. The couple was slapped with fines from the Daytona Beach Police Department.

A sign at the entrance to the park states, “Social services activities including but not limited to food banks and feed programs are prohibited.” 

Jimenez said when they started the program a year ago they asked a local business they thought owned the property for permission, who said they could. The Daytona Beach Police Department fined the couple and four other participants a total of $2,200.

Alba Fernandez walks her dog daily at the park and is shocked by the fine price.  

“That is ridiculous, really!" Fernandez said. "For someone that is trying to help people that are in need? This is not what this country is about.”

However, we spoke with a business owner who works near the park and said the food distribution should not be happening in a public place. 

“You don’t do that in your tourist, beautiful area like this and where you have children and park and dog park with things with families and things to do," said the business owner, who did not want to be identified. "And I just don’t think that is place you want to do something like that."

The couple said over the last year they were never warned or told to stop feeding the homeless – if they were they would have stopped.

The Jimenezs have gathered more than 400 signatures from local residents and some businesses in support of allowing them to continue their mission. They plan to present it to the police department at a meeting Wednesday morning.

 We reached out to both the Daytona Beach Police Department and the city. Neither were available for comment.