Local Chicago Restaurants Offer Free Meals to SNAP Recipients Amid Ongoing Food Assistance Crisis.
In response to the ongoing food assistance crisis, nearly three dozen Chicago-area restaurants are offering free and discounted meals to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Many of these eateries require that customers present a valid SNAP card or other identification to access the discounted meal. The program is part of an effort by local businesses to provide support for individuals and families struggling with food insecurity.
B'Gab's Vegan Kitchen, located at 1450 E. 57th St., will serve 100 free meals per day from Wednesday to Saturday. Meanwhile, Canton Regio in Pilsen will give away free roasted chickens every Tuesday.
Other participating restaurants include CheSa's Bistro and Bar, which offers free meals every Tuesday; Edgebrook Coffee Shop on the North Side, where customers can enjoy a free bacon and pancake breakfast with a valid SNAP card; Harold’s Chicken No. 34, offering a quarter dark meat meal for free every Sunday; Kale My Name in Albany Park, providing free meals daily between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.; Lou Malnati's, teaming up with Lawndale Community Church to offer coupons for $10 pizza through November; Manny’s Delicatessen, which will give away food to the first 300 SNAP recipients.
October Cafe in Norwood Park is offering a free meal every day between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. until November. Paulie Gee's on Milwaukee Avenue is providing free kid-sized cheese pizzas for families whose SNAP benefits have been frozen.
Additionally, Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria will offer free meals to children and expectant mothers at all three of its locations.
Meanwhile, Ponce Restaurant in Avondale is distributing 200 free meals to be given away on a first-come, first-served basis, while R Public House offers free family-sized take-out meals for those in need.
In response to the ongoing food assistance crisis, nearly three dozen Chicago-area restaurants are offering free and discounted meals to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Many of these eateries require that customers present a valid SNAP card or other identification to access the discounted meal. The program is part of an effort by local businesses to provide support for individuals and families struggling with food insecurity.
B'Gab's Vegan Kitchen, located at 1450 E. 57th St., will serve 100 free meals per day from Wednesday to Saturday. Meanwhile, Canton Regio in Pilsen will give away free roasted chickens every Tuesday.
Other participating restaurants include CheSa's Bistro and Bar, which offers free meals every Tuesday; Edgebrook Coffee Shop on the North Side, where customers can enjoy a free bacon and pancake breakfast with a valid SNAP card; Harold’s Chicken No. 34, offering a quarter dark meat meal for free every Sunday; Kale My Name in Albany Park, providing free meals daily between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.; Lou Malnati's, teaming up with Lawndale Community Church to offer coupons for $10 pizza through November; Manny’s Delicatessen, which will give away food to the first 300 SNAP recipients.
October Cafe in Norwood Park is offering a free meal every day between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. until November. Paulie Gee's on Milwaukee Avenue is providing free kid-sized cheese pizzas for families whose SNAP benefits have been frozen.
Additionally, Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria will offer free meals to children and expectant mothers at all three of its locations.
Meanwhile, Ponce Restaurant in Avondale is distributing 200 free meals to be given away on a first-come, first-served basis, while R Public House offers free family-sized take-out meals for those in need.
just saw this and it's awesome that local chicago restaurants are stepping up to help out their neighbors in need 
some of these places are doing 100+ free meals a day lol, like they're running soup kitchens or something 
can't believe canton regio is giving away free roasted chickens every tuesday though, gotta love a good chicken Tuesday 
. I love how B'Gab's Vegan Kitchen is serving 100 free meals a day, thats amazing! And cant believe Cantons Regio is giving away roasted chickens for free every Tuesday, who needs that kinda stress? 
Im also loving the variety of options from Edgebrook Coffee Shop to Paulies Gee's - its so cool how businesses are coming together to support each other.
OMG, I'm so down for this! 
. I'm all for supporting local eateries that care 
. The fact that they're requiring valid ID is a great idea, so everyone knows who's eligible 
. What a wonderful way to spread kindness in the community 
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especially b'gab's vegan kitchen serving 100 free meals a day from wednesday to saturday, that's like wow 
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. Keep 'em up, Chicago!
How much is each meal really costing them? And what about long-term sustainability? Will these free meals keep coming all year round or just till November with those Lou Malnati's coupons? 