Several local restaurants are offering free food for kids as federal food assistance is set to expire.<\/p>\n
DALLAS \u2014 Thousands of North Texas families are bracing for November, when the government shutdown is expected to cause a lapse in SNAP benefits. In response, several North Texas restaurants are offering free meals for kids who may go hungry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Several North Texas food banks told WFAA<\/a> that they are bracing for increased demand for their services, but that no number of non-profits can fill the gap created by the loss of SNAP benefits.\u00a0<\/p>\n “No math, no equation tells you we would be able to shore up the gap that will be created by the loss of SNAP benefits,” Julie Butner, CEO of Tarrant Area Food Bank, said.\u00a0<\/p>\n To help families who will suffer from the loss of SNAP benefits, several North Texas restaurants are offering free meals for kids. WFAA compiled a list of spots offering help:\u00a0<\/p>\n Chicken Salad Chick – Burleson, Fort Worth, Hurst, Midlothian, and Southlake<\/a> <\/p>\n “Children Eat Free at this Chicken Salad Chick location until SNAP benefits are restored,” the franchisee’s Fort Worth location wrote in a social media post. “Starting today (Oct. 28), any child who visits this location will receive a free Kid’s Meal until SNAP benefits are restored to Texans. Please limit to 1 Kid’s Meal per child present, dine-in only. No purchase necessary, no questions asked.”<\/p>\n The franchisee owns 10 Chicken Salad Chick franchises in Tarrant County and the surrounding area, according to a post from Tanglewood Moms<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The locations will also accept donations to the Tarrant Area Food Bank.\u00a0<\/p>\n “With the ongoing government shutdown, we know times are tough for many families right here in Mansfield, TX,” El Primos said in a social media post. “To lend a hand, our team will be assembling meal kits for local children to ensure no child goes hungry.”\u00a0<\/p>\n The kits will be available for pick-up from 4 to 6 p.m. every Monday in the month of November at 2300 Matlock Road in Mansfield, according to the post.\u00a0<\/p>\n The restaurant will also host a food and toy drive every Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the same location.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wizard’s Sports Cafe, Rocco’s Italian Cafe – Richardson, Flower Mound<\/a> <\/p>\n Wizards Sports Cafe, in conjunction with Rocco’s Italian Kitchen in Flower Mound, and Rocco’s Italian Cafe in Richardson, will offer free kids’ meals until SNAP benefits are in place, the restaurants said in a social media post.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dine-in only. One meal per child per day; parents must be present. No purchase necessary, the post reads.\u00a0<\/p>\n Biundo’s Pizzeria – Venus, Texas\u00a0<\/a> <\/p>\n Starting Tuesday, Nov. 4, Biundo’s will offer one 10-inch cheese pizza free to families that have children. They will continue offering the free pizza deal on Tuesdays until SNAP benefits are restored, the restaurant said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Proof of SNAP, an ID and the child present is what we ask in return,” the post reads.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Chestnut Tree – Denton\u00a0<\/a> <\/p>\n Until SNAP benefits are restored, The Chestnut Tree will offer free meals to all children visiting the restaurant, no purchase necessary, the restaurant said in a social media post. Limit one meal per child present, the post states.\u00a0<\/p>\n The location is also collecting non-perishable boxed breakfast items to donate to families in need.\u00a0<\/p>\n