SNAP benefits could go unpaid starting at midnight on Saturday.
Even after a federal judge ordered the Trump Administration to release the money, it could be at least two days before that happens, if at all.
Businesses and restaurants across Metro Detroit are stepping in to help.
“There’s no questions asked,” Michelle Messina, manager of Jillian’s Coney & Grille in Chesterfield Township, said. “We’re not asking anything. If you come in with a child, we are going to give them a grilled cheese sandwich with fries and a pop for free. And if you’re too ashamed that you have to come in and get it, you don’t have to say or need it; we’ll send it to go. Facebook went absolutely crazy last night.”
During lunch on Friday (Oct. 31) afternoon, people were coming in with their kids, some wearing Halloween costumes.
Messina, who has worked at Jillian’s for 13 years, said the restaurant’s social media “went crazy” after the announcement.
Messina said she understands how people can end up in situations like this, noting that you could be just one missed paycheck or one lost job away from losing everything.
The move is the idea of Jillian’s owners, Chuck and Julie Speckman, and it’s not the first time they’ve looked out for kids in the community.
“Actually, we just sent out this morning about 140lbs of taco meat for the L’Anse Creuse High School football team,” said Julie. “During COVID, we gave lunches away to all the kids.”
“One time this lady came in, and then she came in the next day, and [Speckman] said to her, ‘Stop coming every day here,” Julie said. “Take four lunches for the rest of the week.”
Jillian’s is one of a number of local restaurants and municipalities offering free food for kids or families as SNAP benefits are likely to disappear, even temporarily, as part of this prolonged government shutdown.
In Port Huron, City Manager James Freed announced an emergency response initiative that will begin on Saturday.
A group of private donors, community partners, and nonprofits has put together an initial deployment of five semi-trucks, each loaded with approximately 44,000 pounds of food, enough to feed 300-500 families.
The first truck will arrive at the YMCA of the Blue Water Area on Monday at 9 a.m.
While the state of Michigan looks at what it can do to help people, places like Jillian’s are doing what they can to look out for the kids.
“This is until the government opens back up, because people are going to be losing their SNAP benefits tomorrow, and you can’t see these kids. These kids can’t go hungry. They cannot,” Messina said.