Tampa Bay restaurants let kids eat free amid SNAP crisis

• Food banks have also expanded services to meet the need. Feeding Tampa Bay will hold emergency food distribution events all week. Find locations and times here.

What they're saying: "This is not political for us," Tampa restaurant and concert venue Skipper's Smokehouse wrote on Instagram. "This is about helping our hometown community that we love so dearly."

• "We don't want our friends, family, and neighbors to ever go hungry."

Here are 15 participating spots:

Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa: The local haunt open every Thursday-Sunday is offering one free kid's meal per child for dine-in customers "until SNAP benefits are restored," per the Instagram post.

• Skipper's is also asking for donations for a Feeding Tampa Bay food drive. Drop donations at the boxes set up at the restaurant.

Gigglewaters, Safety Harbor: Kids have access to a free bagged lunch per day with either a turkey and cheese or sunflower butter and jelly sandwich, fresh fruit, and a drink. Open every day.

• "Parents can stop in with their children with no purchase necessary and no questions asked," per a spokesperson for the restaurant.

The Living Room, Dunedin and Wesley Chapel: Same deal as above.

• Families can come by any time during operating hours but from 2-6pm is recommended, a spokesperson for owner the Feinstein Group said. Both locations are open every day.
• The restaurant is also "encouraging other local restaurants, cafés and bars to join this community initiative in support of local families."

Pia's Trattoria, Gulfport: The legendary Italian restaurant is offering a free to-go meal of pasta pomodori (pasta with tomato), bread and salad.

• Go to the hostess stand at the Veranda just north of the flagship location between 5 and 6pm Wednesday through Sunday and ask for the "shutdown to-go special."
• "No questions asked," the restaurant said on Facebook.

Orange Blossom Café, Dunedin: The French bistro is offering free kids' meals "for as long as needed," per a Facebook post.

• Closed Sunday and Monday.

Jack Willie's Bar Grill & Tiki, Oldsmar: The waterfront spot wrote on Facebook that it's offering a free kids' meal to go "for as long as the shutdown is going." Ask for a Jack's bag. Open daily.

Cracker's Bar & Grill, Crystal River: The sister restaurant to Jack Willie's is giving kids grilled cheese or chicken fingers with applesauce to go. Open daily.

Chicken Salad Chick, Bradenton location only: Children 12 and under can get one free dine-in kids meal, no purchase necessary, the Bradenton location of the fast-casual chain posted on Facebook.

• Closed Sunday.

Honeycomb Bread Bakers, Winter Haven: Running through the holiday season, the breakfast and brunch restaurant will give out a free hot meal, bread or coffee when you show your SNAP card.

• Once per day per family, the bakery wrote on Facebook. Open daily.

Parlor House Bistro, Dunedin: The restaurant is offering kids a free meal of chicken tenders or ham and cheese sliders, a banana, a juice box and a treat.

• Ask for a "parlor bag," the restaurant said on Facebook. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Our Place, Clearwater: Ask for a "WeCareBag" to get a turkey sandwich or grilled cheese and side for as many kids as you have with you, per Facebook. Open daily.

Dunedin Smokehouse, Dunedin: Ask for a "Dunedin kid bag" for a free bagged to-go lunch, the restaurant posted. Open daily.

Pizza Box, St. Pete: The restaurant will give away five free pizzas a day for families in need. Go in person or call to reserve one, the restaurant said on Facebook. Closed Sunday and Monday.

The Violet Stone, St. Pete: Families can go to the pick-up window between 4 and 5pm and ask for the "shutdown special," per a Facebook post. Open daily.

Dairy Rich, Palm Harbor: Families can stop by for a free kids meal, the ice cream shop posted on Facebook. Closed Monday.

Editor's note: This story was updated with new information.