Restaurants Pledge Free Food as Nearly 42 Million Americans Await Return of Assistance Program
From Kansas to Colorado and beyond, independently owned pizzerias are stepping in to fill the gap left when the federal government shutdown paused payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) Program. SNAP provides cards and vouchers that allow low- and no-income families to purchase food. About 42 million Americans rely on the program to eat: 39% of those are children, 20% are elderly and 10% are disabled, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As Pizza Today revealed during National Pizza Month, the country’s pizzerias often are first to act during community crises, and responding to the stalled SNAP benefits is no exception.
Riccardo’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant
Browns Mills, New Jersey
Vito Russo, chef and owner of Riccardo’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant, pledged last week that the family-owned business would feed those who would go hungry without federal assistance.
“If you’re struggling right now, don’t struggle alone,” says Russo, whose family started Riccardo’s in 1974. “You’re not a burden. You’re not an inconvenience. You are family here.”
Ahead of Veteran’s Day, Russo took his offer one step further: He is offering pizza to members of the military who are not being paid during the government shutdown.
“We’ve been here for 52 years because this community has supported us,” Russo says through a Facebook post. “Now it’s our turn to support you.”
The gesture has caught the attention of local print and broadcast media – as well as members of the community who want to help. “Over these past days, many people have reached out, donated and quietly helped support this cause,” Russo says. “We appreciate every single donation – big or small. Your kindness is being paid forward directly to families who need it most. Thank you for standing with us.”
Krazy Karl’s Pizza
Fort Collins and Loveland, Colorado
Krazy Karl’s Pizza already was donating individual pizzas to recipients of SNAP benefits, and according to the Loveland Reporter-Herald, the two-location pizzeria is expanding is efforts to include federal workers who are not getting paid because of the government shutdown started Oct. 1.
Krazy Karl’s initially covered the cost of the pizzas, but when members of the community wanted to help, pizzeria owner Nate Haas started a Go Fund Me petition to expand the program to assist even more neighbors who are struggling.
“Any contribution – big or small – goes directly toward purchasing ingredients and pizzas for those in need,” according to the donation site. “Once the shutdown and related hardships ease, any remaining funds will be donated to a local food bank to keep the support flowing where it’s needed most.”
D’Mario’s Pizza
Harper, Kansas
Restaurant owner Coleman Teel is now on his eighth day of offering pizza to the hungry. The program first targeted families who rely on SNAP benefits to eat, but incredible community response has allowed D’Mario’s to expand who it is serving.
“It is really because of the support of this community. We just keep getting donations,” he says of the storefront. “I don’t even have words for it anymore. I have run out of ways to say thank you.”
Teel says the donations and social media attention have made it possible to do “a whole lot more” than he ever believed possible. “This is a little bitty restaurant in a little bitty town in a little bitty county in south-central Kansas. “
Lelulo’s Pizzeria
Plum Borough, Pennsylvania
For several weeks, Lelulo’s Pizzeria owner Patyn McCune has closed the shop for a few hours at a time to allow those with EBT cards (the payment commonly used to pay with SNAP benefits) or proof of loss of income to drop by for pantry essentials such as cereal, granola bars, peanut butter and jelly as well as fruit and milk at her storefront.
In addition to the makeshift food pantry, McCune has offered baby formula, diapers and baby food to members of the community who are struggling and also pledged to be open for a buffet-style Thanksgiving meal.
The pizzeria owner has used her Facebook page to show ways to make meals with food from the food pantry and was able to offer 60 reheat-and-eat meals after Halloween.
“As someone who relied HEAVILY on this as a child, this is important to me,” McCune says in a Facebook post. “Kids will be first on the priority list. … If any organizations would like to donate to help, please reach out to me. I would love to collect household needed items/food for those who need it as well as what I’m doing.”
Peace of Pie Pizzeria
Altavista, Virginia
This pizzeria launched the No Hungry Neighbors project to help families impacted by the government shutdown. Visitors who ask for the family meal receive a pasta dish and salad to serve at home.
Co-owner Breezy Peterson tells ABC affiliate WSET, “You would think that no one would slip through the cracks, but people do all the time.”
In fact, the pizzeria ran out of prepared meals on the first day it offered the take-home food. Since then, the restaurant’s suppliers have been donating along with members of the community so that Peace of Pie can increase the number of meals it is able to offer.
Sergio’s Pizza
Malta, New York
Children whose families receive SNAP benefits can get a personal pizza on Mondays and Thursdays for dine-in or take-out at Sergio’s Pizza. The cause is personal for pizzeria owner Tyler Dunleavy, who tells CBS 6 that he grew up receiving government benefits.
“A lot of people rely on those benefits and need them to survive,” he tells the TV station, adding that the response has been “heartwarming.”
This is by no means an exhaustive list of every U.S. pizzeria helping feed its community during the federal shutdown. Some other locations we heard about include:
V Pizza
Cary and BrierCreek, North Carolina
Restaurateur Anthony Rapillo is offering free meals once per week at his four North Carolina restaurants, including V Pizza in Cary and BrierCreek.
Wooden Paddle
Lemont and La Grange, Illinois
Wooden Paddle’s locations in Southwest Chicago are offering free lunch this month to individuals who lost their SNAP benefits.
New York Pizzeria Restaurant
Trotwood, Ohio
The New York Pizzeria Restaurant is offering individual one-topping pizzas to children under 18 and seniors age 60 and up who can show a SNAP benefit card. The dine-in offer is expanded on weekends to include a meal of hot dog and fries for kids.
Roman Gourmet
Maplewood, New Jersey
Vinny LaFredo, owner of The Roman Gourmet, is offering two slices and a soda to anyone with a SNAP benefits card. “No one will go hungry here,” he says.
Bravo Pizza
Belvidere, Illinois
SNAP recipients can get one 10-inch cheese pizza, spaghetti or Mostaccioli with the purchase of a large, one-topping pizza. Manager Alyssa Morgan told NBC station WREX they wanted to help the community “stretch a dollar a little bit further.”
Juanito’s Pizza
Beloit, Wisconsin
The pizzeria is offering free cheese pizzas to families on SNAP who have children under age 12.
Pizza King
Plainfield, Indiana
This month, the Plainfield Pizza King location will offer those with a SNAP card a free meal on Tuesdays.
Little Beast Cafe & Bistro
District of Columbia
Aaron Gordon, co-owner of Little Beast, tells DC News Now that SNAP recipients can get free pizza. “We’ll make large pizzas for any family that’s in need,” he says.
The Works Pizza Loveland
Loveland, Ohio
The Works Pizza is combining its giving spirit with community donations to ensure children are fed this holiday season. Until SNAP benefits are restored, the pizzeria is offering a kid’s meal to children who visit the store. The shop also is making it easy for diners to pay it forward: Customers can buy a kid’s meal at half price, and the pizzeria will feed a child in need. Additionally, the pizzeria’s holiday food drive is underway: Patrons who donate five non-perishable food items can get 25% off their orders.
Giovanni’s Pizza
Marysville, Ohio
Through Nov. 15, Giovanni’s Pizza will offer an 8-inch, one-topping pizza to children ages 17 and under, according to NBC4 Columbus. Owner Cindy Curry tells the station she understands the fear of not knowing where your next meal is coming from.
Fabrizio’s Italian Restaurant
Ashland, Pennsylvania
The idea to offer pizza to SNAP recipients was the idea of Fabrizio J. Manganiello, whose father, the owner of Fabrizio’s Italian Restaurant, quickly agreed, according to ABC station WNEP. The family-pizzeria that recently celebrated 20 years in business will give free pizzas to North Schuylkill High School students with an EBT card.
Tony & Alba’s Pizza and Pasta
San Jose, California
Donations “have been pouring in” at Tony & Alba’s, where children who receive SNAP benefits can get a pizza, sides and a drink for free, and their parents can get food for 60% off, owner Diana Vallorz tells Bay Area news channel KRON.
KC’s Pizza N’ Wings
Holtsville and Islip Terrace, New York
In Long Island, KC’s Pizza N’ Wings owner Kevin Cassidy is offering the choice of penne alla vodka, spaghetti and meatballs, salad or any half-her to SNAP families with valid cards. He even offered delivery for customers who cannot travel – a novel suggestion since 10% of SNAP recipients are disabled.
Momma Mia Pizzeria
Port Richey, Florida
Thanks to donations and its own generous spirit, Momma Mia Pizzeria of Port Richey fed about 100 families per day during its seven days of giving last week. The restaurant offered needy families bags of non-perishable groceries in addition to a spaghetti and meatball dinner on Nov. 10.
The Violet Stone Pizzeria
St. Petersburg, Florida
A new restaurant, The Violet Stone fed 300 families since the announcement it would help bridge the gap for families who rely on SNAP benefits to eat. The best way to support the effort, employees say, is by patronizing the restaurant.
Big Jim’s Pizza Co.
Amarillo, Texas
In addition to its “SNAP Slice” program started Oct. 26 – Big Jim’s offered a free slice of pizza to children ages 15 and under as well as 10% off for parents with a SNAP card – the pizzeria is hosting its third annual Thanksgiving Meal Drive. In partnership with local restaurants, Big Jim’s is offering Thanksgiving turkeys and sides to 25 needy families.
Noli’s Pizzeria
Omaha, Nebraska
As of Nov. 2, this Omaha pizzeria had donated $20,000 worth of food to families facing food insecurity. Owner Joel Marsh tells news channel KETV, “I’m just really happy we can do something to help.”
The Hungry Robot
Fairbanks, Alaska
The “Pie It Forward” program gives customers the chance to buy a pizza for furloughed federal workers, and the pizzeria is matching donations up to 500 pizzas despite slowed sales due to the large number of customers who are military or federal employees.
Biundo’s Pizzeria
Venus, Texas
Families with proof of SNAP benefits can get a free 10-inch cheese pizza on Tuesdays, according a Facebook post by the restaurant.
Doughnate Pizza
Chicagoland
Brian Rock baked 50 pizzas at a garage in Merriville, Indiana, according to the NWI (Northwest Indiana) Times. The pizzaiolo donates pizzas to homeless shelters two to three times per week through his nonprofit group, Doughnate Pizza.
