Copyright New York Daily News
The owner of a French patisserie in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn is offering some relief to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients affected by the ongoing government shutdown, which approaches a month long with no end in sight. Beginning Nov. 1, when SNAP benefits are expected to be suspended, Je T’aime Patisserie will offer a free breakfast to anyone who presents their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card between the hours of 7:30 to 10 a.m. “If you have your food stamp card and you are hungry in the morning …we will give you a free coffee or tea and a free pastry,” proprietor Jatee Kearsley announced in an Instagram post Wednesday after thanking her loyal customers, adding there are no strings attached. “Yeah, that’s just it, like there’s nothing to it.” She told The Daily News on Thursday: “I just have family members who are also suffering, so I just want to help in a small way. There really isn’t any benefit from me giving away free food [but] I just know the struggles that my friends and family are dealing with. So I just want to make sure that I help them and other people in the community.” The Black- and woman-owned eatery, which has been open since 2023, prides itself on being community-focused and has stood out for being the only known specialty bakery in the area to accept EBT cards as payment. “Like, this is not like a new thing because we’ve been accepting SNAP from the beginning, but since it’s on a pause, obviously no one has money to purchase food, so that’s why we’re doing this today,” the 34-year-old Queens native explained. “Being that it is in Bedford Stuyvesant Brooklyn, and although it may seem gentrified, there are still people of all colors using SNAP and EBT,” she said. “The whole goal of Je T’aime really was to always be able to serve the underserved and overlooked communities of New York City, regardless of color, Black, brown, white, purple. Everybody is struggling in some way.” Located at 471 Marcus Garvey Blvd., Je T’aime Patisserie has gone viral for allowing customers to use food stamps to buy its signature stuffed and topped croissant, which are baked fresh every morning. French macarons, quiche and other sweet and savory treats are on the menu as well. Kearsley, who is self-taught in French baking, set out to fight systemic food discrimination in communities without access to good quality food, often known as food deserts. While she hasn’t seen other eateries in the area emulate her approach, she said it doesn’t deter her from doing her part. “If I’m being honest, I don’t mind other people’s business, but I have not seen anybody else do it,” she shared. “I mean, I’m not trying to be a trendsetter. I’m just trying to be a change maker, you know. In the beginning, you know, people were making fun of me for accepting food stamps, but the community thanks me every single day that I do.” In light of the coming SNAP suspension, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency on Thursday announced $65 million in new state funds for emergency food assistance to help provide 40 million meals to residents. Kearsley said the newly-launched SNAP/EBT initiative will go on as long as the government shutdown continues. She also encouraged her more fortunate customers and neighbors to pitch in with the effort, either by donating to her website or by paying it forward at the register in the shop.
