Boxflipz in Pittsburgh offers essential food items to community due to impact on SNAP benefits
THAN EVER. RICKY SMITH, THE OWNER OF BOX FLIPS HERE ALONG SMITHFIELD, TELLS ME HE HAS SEEN HIS CUSTOMERS STRUGGLING, SO HE WANTED TO HELP. SO TODAY HE OPENED UP BOXES OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS AND OFFERED THEM TO ANYONE IN NEED FOR FREE. I STAYED IN A SHELTER RIGHT NOW, SO WITH THE CHRISTMAS TREE, THE FOOD AND EVERYTHING, EVEN THE CLOTHES IS A BIG HELP FOR ME AND MY KIDS RIGHT NOW. LIKE THE HATS, THE GLOVES, ALL THAT. SO A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO BE ON HELP US AND THINGS THAT DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR FOR MY KIDS THAT WE REALLY NEED RIGHT NOW. BETTY THOMPSON WAS AMONG THE DOZENS WHO LINED UP ALONG SMITHFIELD STREET TO SHOP FOR WHAT HER FAMILY NEEDS FOR FREE, IN ADDITION TO THE WINTER CLOTHES BOX, FLIP’S OWNER, RICKY SMITH, OFFERED ESSENTIALS SUCH AS TOOTHPASTE, FORMULA, BABY ITEMS, LAUNDRY DETERGENT AND SOAP. FOR TWO DAYS, HE GAVE AWAY ITEMS TO ANYONE WHO STOPPED. YESTERDAY WE PASSED OUT FOOD. TODAY WE KIND OF GAVE IT ALL OUT AND IT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE END OF THE CHARADES, BUT WE WE DID OPEN UP OUR MEMBERS ONLY DOLLAR DAY, WHERE EVERYTHING IN THE STORE IS A DOLLAR ON THURSDAYS FOR MEMBERS ONLY. FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, WHILE THE GOVERNMENT FIGURES THIS STUFF OUT, EVERYBODY’S WELCOME TO COME SHOP FOR DOLLAR A DAY. THAT BENEFIT BEGINS TOMORROW HERE AT BACK FLIPS ALONG SMITHFIELD, COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY FRO
Boxflipz in Pittsburgh offers essential food items to community due to impact on SNAP benefits
Updated: 6:55 PM EST Nov 5, 2025
Ricky Smith, owner of Boxflipz along Smithfield Street, offered essential items to anyone in need due to the government shutdown’s impact on SNAP benefits.Smith placed large boxes filled with items along the sidewalk in front of his store, extending all the way to Fourth Street, to help community members who may struggle to afford necessities. Dozens lined up to take advantage of the offer, which Smith described as his way of supporting those who have supported him and now need help themselves.”They’re lining up in single file or filling up a bag of food. They’re grabbing some soap, some laundry detergent. There were Christmas trees for the kids. There are baby swings for the baby. Similac for the babies. Just more like we really try to zone in on, like, essential things that people need. Winter hats, winters, all these things like that.”Smith mentioned that they offered some food items yesterday and typically provide $1 items every Thursday to members. For the next two months, he will extend this offer to anyone.Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel
PITTSBURGH —
Ricky Smith, owner of Boxflipz along Smithfield Street, offered essential items to anyone in need due to the government shutdown’s impact on SNAP benefits.
Smith placed large boxes filled with items along the sidewalk in front of his store, extending all the way to Fourth Street, to help community members who may struggle to afford necessities.
Dozens lined up to take advantage of the offer, which Smith described as his way of supporting those who have supported him and now need help themselves.
“They’re lining up in single file or filling up a bag of food. They’re grabbing some soap, some laundry detergent. There were Christmas trees for the kids. There are baby swings for the baby. Similac for the babies. Just more like we really try to zone in on, like, essential things that people need. Winter hats, winters, all these things like that.”
Smith mentioned that they offered some food items yesterday and typically provide $1 items every Thursday to members.
For the next two months, he will extend this offer to anyone.
Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel