After one local restaurant in Centralia — The Centerville Café — stepped up to offer free meals to locals losing their U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits starting Saturday, Nov. 1, other restaurants around Lewis County joined in to do the same over the weekend.
They included McFiler’s in Chehalis, Mrs. Beesley’s Burgers in Toledo, The All In in Onalaska and The Hub Bar &
Restaurant in Centralia.
“As we head into our days off with no end to the government shutdown insight, we are continuing to offer our shutdown meal boxes. They are available free of charge, and we will continue to offer them for as long as the shutdown continues. Just let Dee or myself know that you need a ‘meal box,’ (or the number you need) and we will get them for you straight away,” The All In posted on its Facebook page.
Mrs. Beesley’s is handing out free grilled cheese sandwich meals, and both The Hub and McFiler’s are offering a free slider burger “with pickles and goop,” along with fries. All three restaurants are not just offering free meals to those who lost SNAP benefits, but to anyone in need, according to their Facebook pages.
And while the ongoing federal government shutdown drags on into its second month, people who found themselves losing SNAP benefits over the weekend may get some of them back, temporarily at least.
On Friday, a pair of federal judges ruled U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration had to dip into emergency funds to the tune of $5.25 billion to continue funding SNAP benefits amid the shutdown.
The Trump administration agreed to do this on Monday, Nov. 3, according to reporting by The Hill. However, USDA officials stated the SNAP program would need at least $9 billion to be fully funded for the month of November, meaning those utilizing the program may only receive partial benefits this month, unless the shutdown ends.
Trump is still calling on U.S. Senate Republicans to use the “nuclear option” to override the filibuster and reopen the federal government, as he stated in a Sunday, Nov. 2, Truth Social post — a proposition that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, continues to refuse to pursue.
U.S. Congressional Democrats started the filibuster in September which led to the current shutdown starting Oct. 1.
Before voting on a federal budget continuing resolution (CR) to fund and reopen the government, Democrats demand Republicans in Congress include a tax credit extension to reduce the price of health insurance along with reversing Trump’s Medicaid cuts. Democrats also oppose more Republican proposed cuts to government health agencies.
For those who may not be able to access SNAP benefits or who only receive part of them, the locations, days and times of operation for the restaurants giving out free meals are as follows:
• The Centerville Café, located at 111 N. Tower Ave. in downtown Centralia, open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 360-736-5159 or message The Centerville Café on Facebook at https://tinyurl.com/46v48wu8.
• Mrs. Beesley’s Burgers, located at 393 Cowlitz Ridge Road in Toledo just off Exit 59 on Interstate 5, open from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, call 360-864-4866 or message Mrs. Beesley’s on Facebook at https://tinyurl.com/53hwaxa4.
• The All In, located at 1783 state Route 508 in Onalaska, open from noon to 10 p.m. Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 360-978-4631 or message The All In on Facebook at https://tinyurl.com/bdz43bx8.
• McFiler’s, located at 543 NW Pacific Ave. in downtown Chehalis, open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. For more information, call 360-506-5540 or message McFiler’s on Facebook at https://tinyurl.com/2w7tfcs7.
• The Hub Bar & Restaurant, located at 110 S. Tower Ave. in downtown Centralia, open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. For more information, call 360-559-6211 or message The Hub on Facebook at https://tinyurl.com/msb27rby.
While this all started Friday following The Centerville Café’s announcement, according to The Centerville Café co-owner Michelle Little, the free meals were made possible thanks to a local Country Financial agent.
Little spoke to The Chronicle on Friday, Oct. 31, as customers enjoyed breakfast inside the restaurant.
“Stephanie VonMoos from Country Financial in Chehalis generously donated $500 to kick off our adult and child free SNAP meals,” Little said.
She added that a Venmo account has been set up for The Centerville Café for others in the area wishing to help pay for meals for those in need in the community.
To donate, visit https://www.venmo.com/u/thecentervillecafe or find the diner on the Venmo app under the handle @thecentervillecafe.
On Sunday, Nov. 2, The Centerville Café thanked donors on its Facebook.
“WOW LEWIS COUNTY, YOU SHOWED UP IN A BIG WAY. PLEASE KEEP SHARING SO PEOPLE KNOW WE WILL BE SERVING MEALS THIS COMING WEEK. FROM 8AM TO 2PM. We want to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone in Lewis County and beyond who has come together to support our Free SNAP Meal Program,” The Centerville Café stated on Facebook.
“Your kindness, donations and love have made a real difference for so many families who just need a warm meal and a little hope. It’s amazing what a caring community can do when we all look out for one another. Because of your support, we’ve been able to continue serving meals with love — no questions asked, just open hearts. From all of us here at The Centerville: thank you for reminding us what true community looks like.”
Helping those about to lose their SNAP benefits isn’t the only thing The Centerville Café is doing to aid the local community, as Little stated the diner is serving up Tiger Waffles throughout the entire month of November.
For every Tiger Waffle sold, The Centerville Café will donate $2 to the Class of 2028 Centralia High School Parent Group as a fundraiser for the group’s Safe and Sober Graduation Night.
“They have to raise $30,000 to have a sober night for their senior year,” Little added on Friday.
