On October 25, Heretic Coffee, a volunteer-run nonprofit cafe in Portland, Oregon, announced on social media that it would begin offering free breakfasts to people affected by the loss of federal food aid due to the government shutdown.
In the two days following the announcement, Heretic received an influx of donations and volunteer applications. By October 29, the cafe had received more than $184,553 in donations.
According to a notice posted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, federal food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will not be distributed from November 1. The notice followed the Trump administration’s decision not to use roughly $5 billion in contingency funds that would have extended the program into the month.
SNAP, which helps one in eight Americans—some 42 million people—buy groceries, had already faced funding cuts earlier this year. Food banks and pantries say they are preparing for a surge in demand if the pause takes effect this week.
Although the free meal program at Heretic was scheduled to begin on the first day of the month, owner Josh White told KOIN the shop began serving meals early after seeing an immediate need.
“For me, it was a very simple calculus,” White told KOIN. “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.”
Heretic’s post has gained traction online as the November 1 deadline looms closer. And it’s inspired others: Dozens of coffee shops across the nation have stepped up to help their communities, pull resources, and ensure people don’t go hungry.
In Utah, a No-Questions-Asked Approach to Hunger
In Clearfield, Utah, Karen Blackwood, owner of Something Wicked Coffee (formerly Bean’s Coffee), launched a free breakfast program after seeing Heretic Coffee’s post online.
The initiative follows a simple, no-questions-asked policy. “If you’re in here telling me that you’re hungry, I’m going to believe you,” Blackwood says. “Whether you’re on SNAP or not—if you’re hungry and you don’t have the money for something, I can help you with that.”
Blackwood says she posted about the free breakfast program on social media Monday morning, and the response was immediate. Community members began stopping by with cash donations and tips. “People want to donate because they do want that good intrinsic feeling that they’re doing something helpful for people,” she says.
Blackwood says she’s received an overwhelming response from her community, both in person and online. One customer came in and left a $100 tip; another, $500. Donations have been enough to fund several days of meals, she says.
Each breakfast includes a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit and a muffin, both baked in-house, along with orange juice. “It’s about $8 or $9 [a meal],” Blackwood says. “I also make a gluten-free biscuit and a gluten-free muffin for those who need it.”
Blackwood runs the shop solo, and hopes other local businesses might join in. “If I could feed 20 to 40 people breakfast, and somebody else could step up to provide lunch, we can make sure we get these people fed,” she says. “Not just for today, not just for tomorrow, but until the government figures itself right.”
Topeca Coffee Launches Community Food Drive in Tulsa
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, Topeca Coffee Roasters launched a community food drive in response to the expected pause in federal food aid. But inspiration came from closer to home.
After seeing a social media post from Culture Coffee in Oklahoma City announcing a food drive, Topeca’s marketing manager, Vivian Allen, decided that the company could start one of its own. “It was something we could start today that could directly impact our community,” she says.
Within hours of seeing the post, Allen had approval to move forward, and launched Topeca’s food drive the next morning. It quickly introduced collection bins across its three downtown cafes. Customers who bring nonperishable food items receive 15% off seasonal drinks.
Allen says donations are being distributed weekly to Iron Gate and the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, depending on which items each organization needs most.
The response from customers has been immediate. Allen says she has already received messages from people who want to contribute. “We’ve had customers tell us they’ve been looking for a way to help,” she says.
The process was simple to put into place, she added. After sending a quick staff memo, the team was ready to begin collecting donations.
For Topeca, the program aligns with its long-standing focus on ethical and sustainable practices. “If we’re not embodying equity and sustainability from farm to cup to community, we can’t really claim those values,” Allen says.
Cafes Respond Locally as Food Aid Uncertainty Continues
Social media posts from cafes like Heretic and Culture Coffee have helped bring widespread attention to the pause in federal food assistance, and dozens of other coffee shops have stepped up to provide assistance, free food, and donations.
For now, these small acts of support continue, even as questions about the future of federal food aid remain.
Photos courtesy of Topeca Coffee
