Local restaurants step up to help hunger amid SNAP benefit disruption

CEDAR RAPIDS — Local food establishments are stepping up to stomp out hunger this month as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are interrupted amid the federal government shutdown.

In Cedar Rapids, that includes NewBo City Market vendors, Big Grove Brewery and Stack Wellness Cafe.

Bread and Buttered, a bakery opened in NewBo City Market earlier this year, has been leading the charge at the nonprofit incubator for free food assistance powered in part by public donations and other restaurants.

Last week, the bakery known for its abundance of sourdough options announced an ad hoc food pantry, a program for free sack lunches, free dinners on Fridays and free refrigerator staples.

The new programs, expected to run at least through New Year’s Day, are available to anyone who is hungry without qualifications or restrictions — no questions asked. Programs will continue even if SNAP funding resumes.

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Owners Nikki and Amber Lynn said the cause is close to their heart. SNAP benefits are what helped Amber survive as a new, single mother when she had her first daughter at age 19.

“This affects the most vulnerable pieces of our community. How can we help with this?” Nikki said. “We’re like ‘we bake bread.’ Then it developed from there.”

Their effort started with a new program to provide free loaves of bread and sack lunches to those in need. Sack lunches include a sandwich, piece of fruit, apple sauce, cookie, chips and drink.

“We thought we’d offer this so at least the kids don’t go hungry — they can take lunch to school,” Nikki said.

Then, the effort expanded to include free Friday night dinners. In collaboration with other NewBo City Market vendors like Saatvik Swaad and Lori Ann’s Candies, Bread and Buttered is providing dinners for pick up every Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.

On Halloween, they distributed 45 spaghetti dinners. This week, they’re planning to make 75 sack lunches.

Additionally, the bakery is offering free milk, eggs and butter to those who give advance notice. Weekly pick up for those items is available every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon at NewBo City Market. This week, the bakery ordered 60 dozen eggs, 24 gallons of milk and 20 pounds of butter.

Since many use their SNAP benefits to buy milk, eggs and butter, Nikki said the effort will help recipients use dry goods from other food pantries to make their supplies stretch further.

Those interested in helping can donate shelf stable food items and hygiene products at the bakery’s pantry shelf, put cash donations in their “tip” jar, or send funds via Venmo to @breadandbutteredbakery. Part-time employees have agreed to donate their tips to help fund the effort.

The public is also welcome to donate individually wrapped lunch sides like chips or apple sauce to help supply lunches. Volunteers who would like to help distribute food can email the bakery at breadandbuttered@gmail.com, or message them on Facebook.

Those interested in ordering a dinner, sack lunch, loaf of bread, or refrigerator staples can message the bakery on Facebook or email them at breadandbuttered@gmail.com. The public can receive free lunches, which do not require preorders, by discretely saying “I’m here to pick up a lunch” at their counter during business hours.

“We’re a business that creates food, and we want to feed people,” Nikki said. “Even if they’re not able to purchase our stuff, we don’t want anyone to go to bed hungry.”

Meanwhile, others are pitching in by helping food banks and shelters bulk up their funding amid the unprecedented break in SNAP benefits.

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On Oct. 30, Big Grove Brewery and The Big Grove for Good Foundation announced donations of $4,000 each to the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) in Eastern Iowa, the Food Bank of Iowa in central Iowa, and Food Bank for the Heartland, which serves western Iowa.

The foundation is contributing another $12,000 to local homeless shelters and service organizations in recognition of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week as shelters prepare to open for winter.

Veterans, active duty service members and Gold Star families are welcome to a free meal on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at all Big Grove locations. As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, details on holiday meal giveaways will soon be released.

“At Big Grove for Good, we believe in showing up for our communities when it matters most,” said Mikala Demet, executive director of the Big Grove for Good Foundation. “Food and shelter are basic needs that no one should have to go without, and these donations are one way we can support the incredible organizations and individuals working every day to care for our neighbors and address hunger and homelessness across our region."

Big Grove Brewery CEO Matthew Swift said the brewery will continue to review the developing situation to take additional action to support the community.

Another cafe is making it possible to donate to HACAP by simply snapping a photo.

Stack Wellness, a health conscious cafe with four locations in the Corridor, will donate 20 cents each time a customer shares a photo of their food through GiftAMeal.

Diners can simply scan a QR code and upload a photo of their food or drink at Stack Wellness Cafe to help bolster funds for HACAP. A donation of one dollar can provide six pounds of food, according to HACAP.

"Stack was built to make healthy living easy and accessible for everyone," said Carson Goodale, chief information officer and partner at Stack Wellness Cafe. "Partnering with GiftAMeal lets us extend that same mission into something that can be powerful for the community. Our guests already come to Stack to feel good and do good for themselves — now their favorite smoothie or bowl can do the same for someone else in need."

Since launching, GiftAMeal has partnered with more than 1,000 restaurants across more than 40 states to provide 2.6 million meals to those in need.

Linn County Food Pantry Finder

Download: Johnson County Food Assistance (2021).pdf

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.

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