Eateries Offer Meals To SNAP Families In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — When November starts, the 827,200 New Jersey families who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to put food on the table will see nothing new in their accounts. But some local restaurants are jumping in to help.

The ongoing federal shutdown means that SNAP benefits will be paused and won't go out for the month of November. More than 4,000 Cape May County households rely on SNAP, county officials said.

While judges ordered the federal government to continue funding SNAP on Friday, it's not clear when the benefits will go out.

Tony's Baltimore Grill in Atlantic City said they would offer free kids meals to families who receive SNAP benefits during November. Just present a SNAP card and get as many kids meals as needed, the restaurant said.

RELATED: Cape-Atlantic Food Banks Offer Help Ahead Of SNAP Pause

That inspired some Ocean City spots to do the same.

Kids can eat free at Sunrise Café OCNJ when dining with a parent or guardian who presents a Families First or SNAP card, the café said. They said that they were inspired by Tony's Baltimore Grill, adding "they’ve got the kids covered for pizza, and we’ve got them covered for breakfast."

They can enjoy scrambled eggs and toast, French toast, pancakes, grilled cheese or a cheese quesadilla.

Varsity Inn shared a similar plan.

"Inspired by a selfless gesture by tonysbaltimoregrill, the Varsity Inn will be following in their footsteps ensuring every child in our community has a nutritious meal available to them," the restaurant wrote on Facebook.

Again, families receiving SNAP benefits can show their card and get any kids menu item free, "no strings attached."