Burgerville is the latest Pacific Northwest restaurant to announce free food for those reeling from the loss of federal food stamp benefits, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Benefits stopped on Nov. 1 as a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown, but are now set to be partially restored. A pair of judges ruled Friday that the federal government must keep the food aid program running, according to the Associated Press. President Donald Trump’s administration said Monday that it would comply with the ruling, The Associated Press reported, but it’s unclear how much money SNAP recipients will get or how quickly those funds will be available.
The national food aid program serves about 1 in 8 Americans and is a major piece of the nation’s social safety net. It costs about $8 billion per month nationally.
In Oregon, 750,000 people rely on SNAP to fill their fridges. Many of those recipients are children.
Local coffee shops, restaurants and other businesses have stepped up to work with local food banks to fill in the gap. On Monday, Burgerville joined the effort.
“We really just wanted to ease the worries for families on where one daily meal will come from,” said Burgerville Spokesperson Clare Clancy. “We’re grateful to be in the position to help those in need.
Clancy said the move was not political, but a continuation of the chain’s mission to “serve with love.”
“We don’t want to see anyone go hungry, especially children,” she said.
The Burgerville deal is specifically for kids. Until Nov. 9, anyone who can present both a child and a SNAP card will receive one kids cheeseburger or hamburger basket for free. The child must be present and the deal is only available for in-store or drive through purchases.
During the same period, anyone buying a Burgerville meal can opt to round up their order total to benefit local food banks. And between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Nov. 10, Burgerville will donate 20% of all sales to local food banks.
Burgerville has made a name for itself as a regional, fast-food style chain focused on locally sourced and seasonal foods. According to its website, the Vancouver-based company sources over 75% of its menu “within 400 miles” from its corporate headquarters. Its fall menu features a pumpkin milkshake, an apple crumble sundae and a harvest cider iced tea.
The Burgerville kids meal on offer is 350 to 400 calories, according to the nutrition facts on the company’s website and includes fries and a soft drink.
Free meals will be available until 11 p.m. on Nov. 9 or until SNAP benefits have been reinstated, Burgerville said.
Material from the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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