By Sophia Doan
Amidst the anxiety and hopelessness the removal of SNAP benefits has brought to countless American citizens, many restaurants and coffee shops have begun to distribute free and discounted meals to help those in need.
SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, distributes a portion of tax dollars to help low-income citizens afford meals. In 2024, “SNAP served an average of 41.7 million participants per month” (ers.usda.gov). The program has significantly impacted the food insecurity crisis in the United States (ers.usda.gov/publications). When the government shut down on October 1st, SNAP benefits continued until the end of the month. Once November 1st hit, millions of people relying on the stamps to receive food for themselves began to struggle. With the government continuing the shut down, and President Trump attempting to fight a court order to continue to distribute the benefits, many local companies have stepped up to help their surrounding communities.
A coffee shop that received considerable media attention, Heretic Coffee in Portland, Oregon, began offering free “no questions asked” breakfasts to people impacted by the withdrawal of government benefits. Called the “SNAP breakfast”, people can order with no charge and receive a free meal. To remove the stigma, customers approach the counter and order regularly. States the owner, Josh White, “Food has been in some ways weaponized, and we want to give food to people because that is just a simple, basic human right” (kgw.com). Due to the unexpected influx of social media attention the coffee shop received, people all around the world have begun donating to the coffee shop in order to allow the generosity to continue. In the original Instagram post by Heretic, they stated that they would provide the free food until they “go broke” (instagram.com). Instead, due to the immense amount of donations, they have raised $300,000 and counting over the last week and a half.
Countless other businesses have begun to address the suffocating need for food in their communities. In San Jose, Tony & Alba’s Pizza is “offering free meals to children and a 25% discount to parents until SNAP is funded” (sanjosespotlight.com).
Besides locally owned restaurants and coffee shops, some larger corporations have also started to roll out assistance programs. Select Carl’s Jr. locations have begun to offer an “EBT deal” (sanjosespotlight.com). Additionally, Door Dash has announced that they will be delivering one million free meals throughout the month of November. Furthermore, “DoorDash is waiving fees on approximately 300,000 grocery orders for SNAP recipients.”
In the Campbell Union High School District, the Community Resources posts places with discounted meals, district run food pantries, and services food markets for people in Santa Clara County.
Although there are devastating implications of losing previously relied on meal assistance programs, witnessing the generosity of countless companies and individuals attempting to support their communities proves what the people of the United States truly stand for.