Portland restaurants feed SNAP recipients during shutdown
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Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
Oregonians suffering from food insecurity were again left wondering where their next meal will come from after President Trump vowed yesterday to withhold food benefits.
- Trump's promise appears to defy two federal court orders to fund the benefits.
The big picture: With the federal government failing to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to the government shutdown, many Portland businesses have stepped in to fill the gap.
Zoom in: More than 750,000 Oregonians rely on SNAP benefits. Here are a few of the places helping to keep them fed.
- Harlow: A free bowl of chili for SNAP recipients.
- Magna Kusina: A free plate lunch or a four-person meal for dinner.
- Cafe Olli: A community meal offered on a sliding scale.
- Ben & Esthers: Free sack lunches handed out daily, no questions asked.
- Heretic Coffee: Free breakfast, no questions asked (from the folks who have raised more than $300,000 to support hungry Oregonians).
- Laughing Planet: Free lunch or dinner for adults and kids.
- Woodstock Cafe: Free meal, no questions asked.
Zoom out: Those are just a handful of the dozens of restaurants, cafes and farmers markets that are stepping up to feed their neighbors.
- The folks at Bridgetown Bites have put together a nearly exhaustive list, complete with a map, of all the places around the region offering help.
- Many other businesses — from yoga studios to hair salons — are accepting food donations.
What's next: In a social media post, Trump said SNAP benefits would only resume when the government shutdown ends.
- At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the administration is fully complying with the court order, but recipients need to understand that it will take time to receive money.
- "The President does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future, and that's what he was referring to in his Truth Social post."
Axios' Emily Peck contributed reporting.