“We are in some pretty gall darn uncertain times,” Nick Maestas, owner of New Mexican eatery Muchachos in Lincoln, Nebraska, wrote on Instagram this week.
He is specifically referring to the now-29-day federal government shutdown — and the impending cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food aid to 42 million Americans every month.
Amid the shutdown, the Trump administration said it cannot use emergency contingency funds to continue covering SNAP benefits, NPR reported earlier this week, meaning about 1 in 8 U.S. residents will not receive their benefits beginning November 1.
But Muchacho’s is one of countless small businesses across the country opening its doors to people in need.
“With SNAP benefits being cut, people not being paid to work, we’ve got a lot of people who need some help,” Maestas continued. “So, that’s just what we are going to do.”
The restaurant, which also has a food truck, is launching two initiatives to make sure Nebraskans are fed.
The first is what Maestas is calling the “Muchachos Lil Pantry.” He shared that a spot in the restaurant, which is usually reserved for branded merchandise, will now be a makeshift food pantry. Customers who donate to the shelf will be treated to a free street taco.
“Our merch shelf will now be used for filling up with bread, canned goods, non-perishable items, no questions asked,” Maestas said. “Take what you need.”
A second offering from Muchachos is a free quesadilla — or “SNAPadilla” to anyone who needs one.
“You need a hot quesadilla, we got you,” Maestas continued. “Just order the SNAPADILLA with pork or chicken and we got you, it comes with a soda. One per person. No payment needed. No judgment. Just happy and full bellies.”
The initiatives, which were shared on both Facebook and Instagram, elicited immediate support and gratitude from members of the community.
“I'm one of the ones hurt by this with work slowing down for November and now no [food] stamps … I'm freaking out about how I'm gonna eat,” one Facebook commenter wrote.
“This warms my heart, and I will definitely be visiting and remembering what you guys have done when things get better again … Thank you for such generosity.”
Another person asked if there was a way to financially support Muchachos as they provide resources to people in need.
“We have a gift card we are adding money to,” Maestas replied. “We literally just had the idea and posted without thinking it would get this kind of traction. So working on logistics of some stuff.”
In the meantime, Maestas and his team are already prepared to serve whoever needs a meal.
“These start immediately,” Maestas said in his announcement. “So come on out, do some good, fill your tum tums, and let’s get through all this together!”
And he had one last note, amid ongoing political discourse about the government shutdown.
“Don’t y’all dare bring politics into this,” Maestas wrote.
“We are here to feed. Ensure peeps have a hot meal. To share our love and queso with you all.”
You may also like: A Portland coffee shop offered free breakfast to SNAP recipients. Supporters responded by raising $185K
Header image by Roman Odinstov/Pexels
