by PORTLAND, Ore. – As the federal government shutdown threatens to disrupt food assistance for thousands of Americans, one Portland coffee shop has stepped up to help those most affected.
Helping When the System Fails
Heretic Coffee, a volunteer-run nonprofit, announced it will provide free breakfast to all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. The initiative comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture warned that food benefits might not be distributed next month if the shutdown continues.
“For me, it was a very simple calculus,” said Josh White, the shop’s owner. “We are a coffee shop that has food. People will now be going without it, and we just knew we needed to feed our Portland community.”
Community Support Pours In
In just two days after announcing the program, Heretic Coffee received an outpouring of donations and volunteer applications, totaling more than $97,000 by Tuesday afternoon.
“One of the donations I saw was $1.17. When you donate $1.17, that means you only have $1.17,” White said. “These are people who don’t want to see others go hungry — it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”
From November to “F— It, It’s Open Now”
Initially, the free meals were set to start on November 1, when SNAP benefits are expected to run out. But plans changed after an emotional encounter.
White said a young boy, about 11 years old, came into the shop and asked if he could get his SNAP breakfast a few days early.
“Excuse my language, but I just said, ‘F— it, it’s open now,’” White recalled.
Since then, the shop has served 10 to 15 meals per day, while also seeing more paying customers who leave extra cash to help cover the costs for those in need.
A Ripple Effect of Kindness
“The beauty of it is that these are Portland people ordering a $3 cup of coffee and then leaving cash for others,” White said. “It’s one of the most beautiful acts of generosity I’ve ever seen.”
Heretic Coffee continues to accept volunteer applications and donations through its Instagram page, though White emphasized that people should only give if they can.
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“We are not in need of your money,” he said. “Please only donate if you can.”
A Call to Other Businesses
White hopes the initiative inspires other small businesses to take similar action during the shutdown.
“If you have a small business and you can feed people for free, do it,” he said. “When the system fails us, it’s up to one another to take care of one another.”
Heretic Coffee is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and weekends from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Do you think more small businesses should step in to help their communities during the shutdown? Share your thoughts in the comments at race-day-live.com.
