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One local restaurant in Centralia is stepping up to offer free meals to locals in need as tens of millions of Americans nationwide face losing their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits starting Saturday, Nov. 1, while the ongoing federal government shutdown drags on into its second month.
“Times are tough, and we know some of our friends and neighbors have recently lost their SNAP benefits. If that’s you, please don’t go hungry — come see us at The Centerville Café from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 111 N. Tower (Ave.),” the downtown Centralia diner said in a Thursday, Oct. 30, Facebook post that has since been shared hundreds of times. “... We’ll make sure you get a free meal, no questions asked. Everyone deserves a good meal and a little kindness, especially when life gets hard. Stop by, have a seat and let us take care of you for a bit. You’re part of this community, and we’re here for each other. Just ask your server for the adult SNAP meal or kids SNAP and we will take it from there.”
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.
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.
To learn more about both the free SNAP meals and the Tiger Waffle fundraiser, call the downtown Centralia diner at 360-736-5159, or follow the business on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheCentervilleCafe.
