The lunchtime rush at The Wooden Paddle in Lemont is likely to see a surge, as the well-loved southwest suburban restaurant has started offering free pizzas to SNAP recipients who have recently lost their benefits.

Jonathan Cowan, co-founder of Wooden Paddle, expressed, “You never know who in your community might be going through tough times, losing a job, and needing a bit of extra support.”

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This generous initiative by the restaurant owners extends to their La Grange location as well and will be available throughout November. It arrives at a crucial time when approximately 42 million Americans are set to lose their food stamp benefits this weekend.

Advocates for food assistance highlight that SNAP beneficiaries typically receive about $187 monthly on a pre-paid card, a vital source of food funds for many families.

Residents in the Chicago area emphasize the importance of community support and lending a hand to neighbors in need.

“Definitely community helping community. This is definitely one of those restaurants that’s built on community, so I think it’s really good that they are this with the community,” said restaurant patron Diana Lambiris.

Meanwhile, food banks, food pantries, organizations and everyday people are trying to fill the void. While Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order directing $20 million to food assistance, the Nourishing Hope Food Pantry and the Greater Chicago Food Depository gave food boxes away to those in need.

On Saturday, in the city’s Englewood neighborhood, the Go Green Community Fresh Market gave 100 residents of several city wards $50 grocery vouchers.

“And we wanted to ensure that those who will not be recipients today will still feel the love,” said 16th Ward Ald. Stephanie Coleman.

“We have a responsibility to step up and do what we do to feed families, because people can’t go hungry,” said Christmas in the Wards founder Larry Huggins.

It was done in partnership with the decades old Christmas in the Wards event, which looks to support neighborhoods.

And while a continued stoppage of SNAP payments is not guaranteed after two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must use contingency funds to pay at least some benefits, some recipients, like Carolyn Johnson, are just grateful to have something.

“We don’t have that much at home to dwell on, because today would be the day that we would go to the grocery store,” Johnson said.