HICKORY, N.C. — Two restaurants in the Foothills are offering free meals for families who receive SNAP benefits but aren’t getting them because of the government shutdown.
One of those restaurants in the Hickory area has already passed out hundreds of meals.
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Channel 9’s Dave Faherty reports that the community is stepping up to support those restaurants.
Workers at Casa Aguilar, a Mexican restaurant in Hickory, said the community has donated $8,000 in free meals. They handed out more than 300 free meals on Monday.
Kala Joyner’s family got some free meals from Casa Aguilar on Tuesday. She has four children and relies on SNAP.
“I am a recipient, but I don’t have any at the moment because nobody got any for November,” she said. “It’s a little scary. It’s a little scary.”
Resident Cheyenne Blevins has two young children and was at Casa Aguilar.
“I think it takes a lot of hard work and a great community to come together to be able to do it,” Blevins said.
More than 13,000 residents rely on SNAP benefits in Burke County, officials said.
Beck’s Country Kitchen, north of Morganton, distributed meals on Tuesday, as well. The owner, Reid Beck, is on the school board.
“The fact that Reid and his wife are saying come eat if you’re hungry come eat,” said Summer Abee, a waitress. “It’s awesome and awesome to be a part of.”
In Catawba County alone, 10,000 households receive SNAP benefits totaling more than $3.4 million every month.
The loss of SNAP impacts retailers, who said those benefits make up 11% - 18% of the sales at food stores in the area.
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