Shutdown specials, food drives and all-day happy hours in Richmond
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Richmonders are stepping in to help residents affected by the government shutdown, whether they're facing uncertainty over their SNAP benefits or are furloughed federal workers.
Why it matters: It's a good reminder that there are always people doing great things even in the worst of times.
The big picture: Philly Vegan, which has long done pay-what-you-can services, now has a daily pay-what-you-can menu until the government reopens that includes kids meals.
- Secret Squares offered free pizzas last week to anyone struggling with accessing food and fed at least 100 people, per its Instagram.
- Both inspired 1115 Mobile Kitchen to do its first pay-what-you-can event this weekend.
Zoom in: Run clubs have also gotten involved, with We Off the Couch doing food drives on their Saturday runs.
- Birdie's in the Arts District is hosting a food drive Wednesday from 4-7pm, where donating to Feed More secures a reservation for Birdie's upcoming holiday-themed bar.
Other shutdown deals:
🐓 TBT El Gallo: $6 Fanta sunrises and $4 tall Tecate cans every hour of the shutdown.
💪🏼 Tres Machos: 50% off meals for government employees at their Cox Road location. Must show government ID.
🫨 Ripple Ray's: Kids of SNAP recipients eat free. Nonperishable food donations are welcome.
🍕 Sergio's Pizza and Italian Restaurant: Small lasagna or baked ziti trays through the end of November for whoever needs them. You can also sponsor a meal for $50.
🥩 Another Round or 2 Bar & Grill: Free meals to kids of SNAP recipients until the shutdown ends.
Food drives
👶 Toddler Tribe RVA has an ongoing food and clothing drive and will distribute the donated items to local organizations and food banks.
❤️ Whole Heart Space is accepting donated food items before and after its fitness classes and will drop them off at Feed More each week.
Local food banks:
- RVA Community Fridges: There are 14 of them across the city.
- Feed More
- Chesterfield Food Bank
Other organizations:
- Sylvia's Sisters, which helps with period product needs.
Meanwhile, food delivery apps are also rolling out programs to help, reports Axios' Kelly Tyko.
- Instacart is offering 50% off grocery orders (up to $50) for active SNAP users.
- DoorDash is waiving fees on 300,000 grocery orders for SNAP recipients at select stores with code SNAPDD.
- Gopuff is donating up to $10 million in free groceries, offering two $25 credits for SNAP customers with free 15-minute delivery with code SNAPRELIEF.
🗣️ What did we miss? Share more discounts and drives with [email protected].
Go deeper: Bessent says SNAP payments "could be" made this week