ATHENS, Ohio — When food assistance payments paused during the federal government’s recent shutdown, Athens County organizations and individuals stepped up to provide for their neighbors.
Hot Box Chicken Fingers & Tots is one such example.
The restaurant, located at 74 N. Court St. in Uptown Athens, offered free meals to anyone who presented a SNAP card, starting Nov. 1. The initiative ended up feeding “many more people than I anticipated,” owner Kevin McNamara said.
“It’s good that we’re able to be helpful and that we’re building a lot more awareness of Hot Box,” McNamara, who lives in Cleveland, said. “The downside is that there’s a lot of people that need food.”
The giveaway did more than keep people fed, McNamara said.
“I had one person that said they can’t remember the last time they actually went out to dinner, because that’s just not in their budget,” he said. “And they were able to come out and feel special. And to me … it’s making some good out of a bad situation.”
Now that SNAP benefits have been restored, Hot Box is no longer giving away free meals. SNAP payments should be resume fully this week, Ohio Capital Journal reported.
According to its posts on social media, Hot Box donated nearly $20,000 in meals and received around $4,000 in area contributions to support its efforts.
“I just felt that it was my responsibility to jump in,” McNamara said.
Though he’s in Cleveland, McNamara said it’s important to him as a small business owner to be a part of the community. Not only a restauranteur, McNamara works full time in student financial aid; he created a scholarship program from Hot Box, too, for local graduating high school students.
“Athens has always been such a special community,” he said. “Athens takes care of their own, and they huddle up and help out … and I want to be part of the fabric.”
Grocery buddies
Athens residents Melissa and Michael Link started a November grocery buddy program that paired a household or family with a volunteer who supported the household’s grocery expenses. About a dozen donors assisted over 50 households, the Links said.
One of those donors was Suzanne, who asked that only her first name be used due to privacy concerns. She said she met the members of the household, a grandmother and two grandkids, at Kroger after they did their shopping. Then Suzanne paid for the family’s items at check-out — that simple. She’s done so twice now.
“It feels good,” Suzanne said. “And I have time.”
In other cases, individuals donated directly to the Links’ GoFundMe. The couple then purchased groceries or a gift card for another volunteer to either shop or place a pickup or delivery order to support households in need.
Melissa Link said she started the grocery buddy idea as soon as she heard news about SNAP payments pausing. The news of the government shutdown made her angry, frustrated and disappointed.
“I guess this is my way of not crying and yelling,” Melissa Link said. Michael Link said the couple put that “anger towards a solution.”
She said support — financial and volunteer — slowed down after the shutdown ended, but the need remains. She estimated that she spent about 20 to 30 hours per week coordinating volunteers and households, crunching numbers, shopping and delivering groceries as far as Glouster.
“She’s a doer,” Michael Link said of Melissa.
Melissa Link’s not sure if or how she’ll continue coordinating the grocery buddy program, but “people still need help,” she said. Fortunately, 14 volunteers permanently “adopted” families and will help them weekly with grocery expenses, she said.
Throughout the process, she noticed the factors that hinder food access, including lack of transportation and nearby grocery stores. She’s also noticed that some families in need have dietary restrictions, too, which limits what items they can use from food pantries.
“People need rides,” she said. “I’ve really noticed the inequality and huge gaps.”
The Links said they have experienced food insecurity themselves, at one point relying on food pantries and the kindness of strangers to feed their family. Melissa Link noted that her efforts were not just to financially support her neighbors’ access to food, but to also build connections.
In support of the Links’ grocery buddy efforts, Big Run Kava Bar offered discounted drinks to donors.
More businesses that offered free meals to SNAP recipients during the pause included Larry’s Dog House, starting Nov. 7, and Mitzi Lou’s; among many others.
In Athens County, 14% of households receive SNAP; the county’s overall poverty rate is 22.5%.
Check out our Food Resources Explorer to find food pantries, giveaways, distributions, community meals and more near you.
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