A fun fact: In some other, more civilized nations like New Zealand and Bangladesh, if a legislative stalemate gets to the point of government shutdown, the people are entitled to fire all of the legislators and start over. Just a thought.
As things currently stand, there is no further funding for SNAP in this country because that requires congressional authorization. There is, essentially, no Congress right now, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture has now confirmed that 42 million low- and no-income Americans will not receive their November allotment of government food aid if the shutdown continues. Of that number, 5.3 million live here in California. The USDA has also declined to apply $5 billion in contingency funds to close the funding gap. Food banks and other community service providers like East Oakland Collective have already been struggling to meet people’s needs in the wake of recent benefit cuts. So what’s a person to do?
Leaders in the Bay Area food scene have already begun to answer the call. So until SNAP is funded, here’s an ongoing list of restaurants where SNAP recipients can receive free food. Just bring your EBT card! If you hear about more restaurants joining in, reach out to us and we’ll add them to the list.
Al Pastor Papi 232 O’Farrell St., San Francisco 11am–8pm Tuesday through Saturday
SNAP recipients can receive free bean or chicken burritos. (Identification also required.) Up to four burritos a week per family.
Monster Pho 360 40th St., Oakland Lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday
Children (12 years or younger) of SNAP recipients receive free pho for dine-in or takeout. Parents can receive 25% off their own meals. Children will also be signed up for a Dec. 20 toy drive in Oakland Chinatown.
Children of SNAP recipients receive a free chicken and garlic rice burrito and drink. Parents will also receive a discount on their own meals. Limit of 5 burritos per family per week.
Children of SNAP recipients eat for free for dine-in or takeout. Parents can receive discounted meals as well.
Understory 3340 International Blvd., Oakland Breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday; plus dinner Wednesday through Friday
The worker-owned restaurant’s seasonal community offering (now, a summery corn soup with leafy greens and mushrooms) is actually always served on a “pay-what-you-can” basis to anyone who asks.
Soleil Ho is a cultural critic, cookbook writer, and food journalist who has a nasty habit of founding media projects instead of going to therapy: from the feminist literary magazine Quaint to food podcast Racist Sandwich to our dear COYOTE.
