Grassa, a well-known Oregon pasta restaurant with a location at Mercato Grove in Lake Oswego, is stepping up to support families impacted by the suspension of federal food assistance benefits. The restaurant announced it will provide free pasta meals to children affected by the lapse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is expected to begin Saturday, Nov. 1, following the ongoing federal government shutdown.
In a post shared Wednesday on Instagram, Grassa said, “20 million kids count on SNAP for their meals. Until the program is fully funded again, we’ll make sure no child goes hungry. Show your SNAP card, and any child in your group eats a kids’ pasta on us!”
SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, helps low-income families afford groceries and meals. With the government shutdown delaying the distribution of these benefits, many households across Oregon and the U.S. are expected to experience food insecurity in the coming weeks.
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Grassa’s initiative aims to ease that burden by providing nutritious, freshly made pasta meals to children who might otherwise go without. Families simply need to present their SNAP card at any Grassa location to receive the free meal offer for kids in their group.
The restaurant’s effort reflects a growing movement among local businesses and community organizations to fill gaps caused by the shutdown. Many restaurants and nonprofits have pledged temporary food assistance programs until federal services resume.
Community members have praised Grassa’s gesture, calling it “a simple but powerful act of kindness” and an example of how local businesses can make a real difference in times of crisis.
While there is no official timeline for when SNAP benefits will be restored, Grassa’s team says they’ll continue offering free kids’ pasta meals “as long as it takes” to help ensure no child goes hungry during the funding lapse.
For updates and details on participating locations, families can visit Grassa’s official social media pages or website.
