- Businesses in Utah, including Mark Miller Subaru and Girls Who Smash, offer free meals.
- Efforts aim to support furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown and SNAP suspension.
- Community contributions and partnerships enhance these initiatives, providing food security across the region.
SALT LAKE CITY — Some businesses across the Wasatch Front are helping to fight food insecurity as many government workers remain furloughed through the government shutdown.
Exacerbating the situation for many, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were also set to be suspended on Saturday, but two federal judges blocked President Donald Trump's administration from suspending food aid for millions of Americans amid the ongoing government shutdown on Friday.
It was not immediately clear whether the rulings mean benefits will be paid on Nov. 1.
Mark Miller Subaru wouldn't be the first place you'd think of if you are looking for a place to eat. But the dealership announced on social media that it will provide free boxed lunch to patrons, "no questions asked." The South Salt Lake location, at 3535 S. State, and the Sandy location, at 10920 S. State, will provide the lunches from Saturday, Nov. 1, to Nov. 30.
Visitors can pick up the free lunch at the cafe located inside the dealership.
"I think, just for us, just seeing the need in the community, with everything that's going on with the government shutdown and SNAP benefits going away tomorrow, there's going to be a major need for food insecurity and those problems in the community, and this is the least we could do to help," said CEO Jeff Miller on Friday.
According to Miller, another way the company is deepening its impact is through a partnership with the Granite Education Foundation, as part of Subaru's "Love Promise" initiative. This collaboration aims to provide snack bags and easy-to-prepare food kits to students in the Granite School District who are experiencing food insecurity.
The dealership is matching all donations made to the foundation throughout November, doubling the support for students and their families during a particularly difficult time. "We're always looking for ways to help the community, and this seemed like a really good one," Miller said.
Beginning Sunday, Nov. 2, Girls Who Smash, a popular food truck known for its smash burgers, will be providing free "loaded fries."
"Our loaded fries include a burger patty on top, and then our sauce and pepper and cheese, or they can do it with our chipotle mayo or jalapenos on top," said Carlysle Porter. "The reason we're doing fries is they travel better and you can get a larger portion."
Porter is part-owner of the food truck along with her partner, Camille Aglaure. The duo was inspired by other local businesses, such as Mumbai House and Doki Doki, which also offer free meals. Porter and Aglaure decided they wanted to give back.
"We thought, you know, we'd rather take a little bit of a hit in growth in our business and help support the community, because the community has supported us in so many ways," Porter said.
Girls Who Smash has already seen an outpouring of public support. After posting a Venmo link for meal donations, the community contributed approximately $2,000 in less than a day.
They plan to use the donations to develop a program that provides nonperishable food items, along with healthier food options, for community members who may face the loss of SNAP benefits.
One concern they share is the fact that they are a food truck, and they do not stay in one location.
Due to this, social media is one of their strongest tools. They also use these channels to spotlight other local businesses and to announce pop-up locations and keep supporters — especially those struggling with food insecurity — in the know.
"We can do at least 60 meals for free a week, and help people get through it, because it's just tough. It's a really tough economy," said Aglaure.
Karen Blackwood, owner of Something Wicked Coffee in Clearfield, knows all too well just how tough it can get.
"I know what it's like to go hungry, to be hungry," Blackwood explained. "My mom used SNAP benefits to feed me and my siblings." She had planned to offer free breakfast to people in need beginning Saturday near Hill Air Force Base, but her plans changed when she realized people were coming into her shop hungry.
"Whenever there's a need in my community, I do what I can to try to help with it," Blackwood said.
Several walk-ins have already benefited from the free meal, dubbed the "SNAP breakfast." She prepares all the meals in-house, which include "a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit, a muffin and orange juice." Gluten-free muffins and biscuits are also available.
Blackwood encouraged members of the community: "We all just need to do what we can, find our strengths and how it serves the community."
In Utah County, Yummy's Korean BBQ is also planning on distributing free food to those who rely on their SNAP benefits.
"As soon as I saw the KSL article hit for SNAP benefits not being distributed, I immediately wanted to help the Utah community," Sun Choi, owner, said. "Utah has helped our family build an amazing business, and without the Utah community, we wouldn't be here. So it's our small way of giving back."
The restaurant plans on serving fried rice and has other ideas in mind, such as Korean-style chicken soup. Choi does not have a set timeline for how long the business will support the community. It will "try and do it for as long as possible," and promises, as long as it is in business, it will do what it can for the community.
