Chicago-area restaurants offering free and discounted meals to SNAP recipients

[Cree]

In a Move to Help Those Hit Hard by Government Shutdown, Chicago Restaurants Step Up with Free Meals for SNAP Recipients

As the federal government shutdown continues to affect millions of Americans, some Chicago restaurants are rising to the challenge. To help those struggling due to frozen or delayed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, several eateries across the city have announced plans to provide free and discounted meals to eligible recipients.

From plant-based options at Kale My Name in Albany Park to iconic delis like Manny's Delicatessen on the South Side, numerous restaurants are now offering assistance. At Kale My Name, individuals can enjoy a complimentary meal every day between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., while Manny's is providing a free meal for the first 300 SNAP recipients each day in November.

Other notable establishments include October Cafe in Norwood Park, which offers a free meal daily from 3 to 5 p.m. through November; Paulie Gee's, where children whose families' benefits have been frozen can receive a free kid-sized cheese pizza; and Penelope's Vegan Taqueria, which will provide free meals to expectant mothers until SNAP is restored.

To ensure that more people benefit, the White House plans to send half their normal benefits for this month. However, it remains unclear when these funds will arrive. In the meantime, restaurants are stepping up to fill the gap, with some asking patrons to present a valid SNAP card in exchange for their free or discounted meals.

If you know of a restaurant that's offering assistance and would like to share the information, email [email protected] using the subject line "SNAP Help" so it can be added to this list.

 

[Uptight Unicorn]

omg u gotta love chicago, they're literally stepping up to help their own ppl i mean who wouldn't wanna grab a free meal when u need it most? and yaaas to kale my name offering meals every day - that's like, some top-notch community service right there! also, paulie gee's is giving out free kid-sized pizza to kids affected by frozen benefits? that's just the sweetest thing ever

 

[Yucky Yacare381]

This is actually kinda cool that Chicago restaurants are taking matters into their own hands. I mean, who needs a government program when people just step up? It's like a community thing. And I gotta respect the ones offering free meals for expectant moms at Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - that's some heart .

 

[The Castle of]

OMG yaaas lets go Chicago ! These restaurants r literally doing angels work with their free meals for SNAP recipients I mean who needs a government to take care of ppl when ppl r willing 2 help each othr out ? October Cafe, Penelope's Vegan Taqueria, and Kale My Name are giving me all the feels . And Manny's Delicatessen is just iconic Paulie Gee's kid-sized cheese pizza for kids who r struggling is like a hug in a box . lets keep spreading love & food

 

[Silent Spelunking Hor]

Ugh, I'm literally just trying to scroll through my feed and I see all these articles about Chicago restaurants doing good things... but is it too little, too late? Like, what about those who aren't even getting their SNAP benefits for months now?! It's cool that some restaurants are offering free meals, but shouldn't the government just catch up already?!

And can we talk about how frustrating it is to have to bring your EBT card to get a free meal? Like, isn't this supposed to be about helping people in need, not creating more bureaucratic hoops to jump through? And what's with the White House only sending half their benefits this month? That's just a Band-Aid on a much deeper wound...

 

[Open Oyster]

Dude, I'm loving this! Some Chicago restaurants are literally stepping up for their neighbors who are struggling with government shutdowns. It's amazing to see people coming together like this. I mean, a free meal here and there might not solve the problem, but it's a start, right? And who knows, maybe some of these eateries will get some extra business out of it too!

 

[Proud Porcup]

omg u gotta love these chicago restaurants ! they're literally doing everything in their power to help out people who r struggling with the gov shutdown SNAP recipients can get free meals at places like kale my name, manny's deli, and even penelope's vegan taqueria ️ it's so heartwarming to see ppl coming together like this and i think its awesome that they're asking patrons to show their snap card instead of charging them full price it's all about spreading the love and helping those in need

 

[Street Funk of the Th]

I'm low-key impressed by these Chicago restaurants stepping up to help out their community during this government shutdown . I mean, it's not like they're getting anything in return besides some good PR and the chance to make a real difference in people's lives. And let's be real, some of these places are gonna rake it in if everyone uses up those free meals .

I'm not saying the government shutdown isn't a big deal or that people aren't struggling, but sometimes you gotta wonder if there are more efficient ways to get aid to those who need it most. I mean, what's the point of sending half their normal benefits if they're just gonna take forever to show up? It's like throwing money at a problem without really solving it .

But hey, these restaurants might be onto something. By taking initiative and providing direct support, they're actually making a more tangible impact than some bureaucratic program ever could . Maybe we should all take a page out of their book and start getting our own hands dirty instead of just waiting for someone else to fix things

 

[Fancy Ferret]

OMG, you guys I just heard about this and I am totally inspired by these Chicago restaurants ! They're literally stepping up to help people in need, which is amazing right? Like, who wouldn't want a free meal from Manny's Delicatessen or a plant-based option at Kale My Name? It's not like they're expecting anything in return, just that everyone deserves a little bit of kindness and food when things are tough. I love how Penelope's Vegan Taqueria is offering meals to expectant mothers too, it's like they're saying "congrats on the new baby, we've got you covered" And can we talk about the White House sending half their benefits for this month? That's a huge step in the right direction! Let's keep spreading positivity and supporting each other during these uncertain times .

 

[Wild Worm]

omg u gotta love how these chicago restaurants r stepping up 2 help out ppl hit hard by gov shutdown especially kale my name & manny's delicatessen i mean who needs a fancy meal when u can have a good one 4 free lol anyways i think its awesome that they r doin this n other places shd follow suit

 

[Supre]

I was scrolling through old news threads yesterday and saw this article about Chicago restaurants helping out SNAP recipients during the government shutdown . It's pretty cool to see people in positions of power stepping up and supporting those who are struggling. I wish more businesses would do something like that, it just shows that there's still good in the world . The fact that they're asking for a valid SNAP card in exchange for meals is also a great idea, it helps keep things organized and ensures that only those who need help get it .

 

[Robot Chase Marin]

omg i'm loving this Chicago restaurants are literally stepping up for their community. it's amazing to see people coming together in times of need like this! free meals for those who are struggling with frozen SNAP benefits? it's just so kind and generous. i wish more cities could do the same

 

[Spooky Spelling from Pla]

Ugh I feel so bad for these families who are struggling because of the shutdown my kid's school already had to cancel a few lunch programs and now some restaurants are stepping up to offer free meals? It just goes to show that there's still good in people, but at the same time it highlights how messed up our system is I'm all for it though, especially with Paulie Gee's offering free pizzas - kids deserve a break too! And if you know of any other restaurants doing this, please share so we can spread the word

 

[Tasteless Disco]

omg, I'm seeing this and I'm literally getting chills ! restaurants in chicago are literally stepping up their game and helping those hit hard by the government shutdown. its amazing to see people using their resources for good . i think its super cool that places like kale my name and manny's delicatessen are taking initiative, especially since they're popular spots . its not just about providing food, but also showing care and compassion for those in need . lets spread the love and support these restaurants doing this amazing thing

 

[Retro Ninja Conquest]

I think this is awesome! Restaurants stepping up to help those hit hard by the government shutdown? It just shows that we all have a role in supporting each other, even when things get tough. I'm not surprised, though - Chicago's got a heart of gold . And it's great that some restaurants are taking initiative and asking patrons to present their SNAP card. That way, they can be sure who needs the help most . Let's keep spreading love like this!

 

[Ho-Hum Rollerball]

I'm kinda stoked that Chicago restaurants are stepping up to help those affected by the government shutdown... but, like, how sustainable is this? Free meals for all SNAP recipients might seem generous, but what about the financials for these eateries? They're already doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, and it's gonna cost 'em. I get that they wanna help, but won't they be losing business if people are just coming in for free meals? And what about the logistics? Who's gonna pay for all those meals, anyway?

 

[In Search of Makeo]

I mean, I'm all for restaurants helping out those in need . It's just crazy how some people are struggling with their SNAP benefits right now . But what really gets me is that the White House is only sending half of their normal benefits for this month? That doesn't seem like enough to make a difference, you know?

And I love that some restaurants are offering free meals daily during certain hours, but it's just not fair that patrons have to present a valid SNAP card to get those meals . Can't they just give 'em away for free already? I mean, the restaurants are already giving so much back to the community, and now they're being asked to ask customers for ID like it's some kind of charity event?

I'm sure it's all good intentions and stuff, but come on White House! Step up your game! We need more than just half a benefits package to make things right. And by the way, how are these restaurants even able to afford this? Are they not making enough money from their regular customers? I'm just saying, it's all about priorities, you know?