Copyright Boston.com
Restaurants, grocery stores, and other food businesses are stepping up during the government shutdown, which has resulted in cuts to millions of people's SNAP benefits. Boston area restaurants and food businesses are stepping up to feed the community as uncertainty looms over when some residents might receive food assistance during the federal government shutdown. Businesses have shared posts on social media that show them partnering with nonprofits, accepting donations on their own to build community fridges, or offering meal deals to those who receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits that are currently delayed by the Trump administration. Some of the community assistance is also available to federal workers who are going without pay during what could become the country’s longest government shutdown. SNAP benefits, used by nearly 42 million Americans to purchase food, were threatened to be frozen on Nov. 1 because the program ran out of money, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Trump administration blamed Democrats for the benefit freeze and continued shutdown. Democrats, currently fighting to renew expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits, have argued that there is a contingency fund to pull from for SNAP. Two federal judges also ruled that the Trump administration must keep SNAP benefits afloat using the emergency fund on Friday. Still, it isn’t immediately clear when benefits will go out and how much recipients will see on their cards. The government on Monday had agreed to release partial payments to SNAP recipients for the month of November, but on Tuesday Donald Trump shared on Truth Social that SNAP funds wouldn’t go out until the government shutdown ended. While the funding of SNAP remains unclear, the running list of restaurants and food businesses below are trying to fill the gap. Where to find free food in Greater Boston — from restaurants to farmers markets Allandale Farm A Brookline farm is starting a free farmers market in response to the ongoing government shutdown threatening SNAP benefits. Allandale Farm announced Wednesday on Facebook that it had partnered with the historic Loring Greenough House in Jamaica Plain to set up a free produce pickup program. Iggy’s Bread in Cambridge will also donate bread to the market, according to the post. When: The first three Thursdays of November from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: 12 South St., Jamaica Plain American Flatbread Multiple locations of this pizza chain are offering free small medicine wheel pizzas, one per day, per customer with a SNAP card. The offer is only available for takeout and lasts for however long the government is shut down. When: Daily Where: 76 Guest St., Brighton; 85 Green St., Worcester Blacker’s Bakeshop Every Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoons in Newton, Blacker’s is hosting a free bread table for anyone to take home what they need. Last Sunday, Blacker’s was also joined by Ina’s Kitchen, which brought free soup to the community table. When: Every Sunday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Where: 543 Commonwealth Ave., Newton Brothers & Sisters Co. The Brookline coffee shop helps maintain a community fridge, known as Jennifer Coolfridge, outside its shop with the help of community groups Brookline For the Culture, Brookline Muslim Friends, and Bowls4Boston. The organizations and businesses behind the fridge are asking for donations, as well as inviting residents to take what they need at any time. When: Daily Where: 7 Station St., Brookline Ebo Grocery In Eastie, a gourmet grocery store is accepting donations of all kinds — non-perishable grocery items, diapers, Venmo payments, and more — during the ongoing issues with SNAP benefits. The owner of Ebo is using cash donations to purchase goods at Market Basket. For residents in need of food, the donated grocery items will be placed outside of the business for anyone to grab, no questions asked. When: Donations accepted during business hours Where: 110 Meridian St., East Boston Joe Angelo’s The Brockton bar and restaurant is offering meal deals amid the cuts to SNAP benefits. For $5.95, diners can choose between a house salad with grilled chicken, ziti with two meatballs, American chop suey, housemade soup with a grilled cheese sandwich, cheese pizza, or two hot dogs with chips. When: Available daily Where: 11 Crescent St., Brockton Neighborhood Produce This Somerville grocery store is running a sale at both its locations on items like broth, pasta, tomatoes, and other canned goods. Customers can either take the goods home or donate those purchased grocery items. Neighborhood Produce also donates its “damaged and imperfect foods” to the community fridge in Somerville and the Food Link charity in Arlington, and encourages its customers to do the same. When: Open during business hours Where: 415 Medford St. and 691 Broadway, Somerville Seoul Kitchen Both locations of a Korean restaurant are offering a free family takeout meal, which includes Korean dumplings, beef bulgogi, Kang’s chicken, and veggie yaki udon, through the duration of the government shutdown. Those who show either their SNAP benefits card or their federal ID can enjoy the meal either at the restaurant or for takeout. Seoul is also accepting donations from the community in order to continue offering the free family meal. When: Tuesdays through Thursdays Where: 142 Littleton Rd., Westford; 20 Central St., Leominster Suya Joint The West African restaurant, located in Roxbury and Providence, Rhode Island, is offering free community meals every Monday through the month of November. Visitors who show a benefits card can get a Jollof pasta meal free of charge. When: Every Monday from noon to 2 p.m.
