With the elimination of SNAP benefits looming if the Government shutdown continues into the weekend, many establishments are stepping up to help those in their communities.
Shakopee Bowl is just one of many businesses offering free food in this time of need. No questions asked.
"So no, we're not going to question anything," says owner Dave Johnson. "Our staff will just know that if somebody asks for a free meal for their child, that'll be no questions asked. They're going to get a hamburger, and apple sauce, and a free drink, and we just - we give that to them.'
He says his decision has nothing to do with politics.
"You know, everyone has their views and whatnot, but this is just about helping people and being kind," says Johnson. "And, you know, helping people that might be in need and being a place that people know that if they need something, come here."
If the Government shutdown continues into the weekend, 440,000 Minnesotans will lose their SNAP benefits, impacting 150,000 children in the state. The numbers nationwide are massive. Last year, SNAP provided assistance to 41 million people, nearly two-thirds of whom were families with children.
"We've always done things for the community and yesterday, you know, just seeing social media posts about SNAP, and kids maybe not having a meal," Johnson explained. "Myself, when I grew up, I was one of those kids that - we didn't know where the next meal was gonna come from, with a single dad and I thought, you know, this would be a great thing."
He said this offer at Shakopee Bowl will continue until benefits are restored.
Other restaurants are also stepping in to help too
Saint Louis Park-based Taco John's are giving away one free meal to each guest that asks for one starting Friday and all this weekend at stores across the U.S.
Taco John's CEO Heather Neary told the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar it's a no-questions-asked policy.
"You don't need to produce anything, we wanna make sure everybody has their dignity and we wanna make sure that we're respecting everybody," says Neary. "We know this is a tough time for a lot of folks, whether it's because of the SNAP benefits ending, or other just economic issues that are happening in our communities. We wanna make sure that we're giving back at a time of need."
Next Thursday, Taco John's is donating to local food banks. They'll provide one Taco Bravo for every one sold in stores. Neary says they are working to help local franchises off-set the cost of these meal donations.
Heights Pizza Man in Columbia Heights has said that starting Monday, Nov. 3, pizza slices, salads and cheese bread will be made available "to those in need, no questions asked.
"We will continue to do so as long as our budget allows," says a social media post. They are also asking for donations to help provide the offer. You can donate to that here via a QR code.
Hope Breakfast Bar in St. Paul has said that starting Monday, Nov. 3, families in need can get pancakes to take home - and again, it is "no questions asked." They are offering those from 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. daily.
"At Purpose Restaurants, we believe that no one should ever have to choose between feeding their family and paying the bills," they said on social media.
St. Paul favorites, The Nook and Shamrocks are also offering up free kids meals during the ongoing shutdown.
"For those of you who are facing the prospect of losing our SNAP benefits in November, The Nook and Shamrocks are offering free kids meals during this time," they say, asking anyone who comes in Monday-Wednesday to bring in their SNAP card and ID.
Delivery services also step in
Instacart said Friday it will offer customers who receive SNAP benefits 50% on their next grocery order to ease strain.
Instacart said any customer who placed an order in October using a SNAP/EBT card will be eligible for the discount, which will be available even if the government makes the payments as planned on Nov. 1. Instacart said it will also triple its usual donations to more than 300 food banks.
The San Francisco-based grocery delivery company said both programs amount to $5 million in direct relief.
“As SNAP funding faces unprecedented disruption and food banks brace for longer lines, we’re focused on practical, immediate solutions: helping families who use SNAP stretch their grocery dollars and helping food banks stock up to support their communities,” said Dani Dudeck, Instacart’s chief corporate affairs officer.
Instacart is one of several big companies reacting to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s plan to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown.
DoorDash, a delivery company also based in San Francisco, said earlier this week it would waive service and delivery fees for an estimated 300,000 orders for SNAP recipients in November. DoorDash said it would also deliver 1 million meals from food banks for free.
DoorDash said more than 2.4 million customers have a SNAP/EBT card linked to their DoorDash account.
Instacart didn’t immediately say how many of its customers receive SNAP benefits. The company began accepting online SNAP payments in 2020. It offers discounted memberships for SNAP recipients and zero delivery fees on orders over $35.