When the recent federal government shutdown stalled critical programs, families in Llano County felt it almost immediately. The interruption of SNAP benefits left nearly 2,000 local households in limbo when November payments scheduled for deposit on October 29 failed to arrive.
Seeing the need unfold in real time, local food truck JJ's SmokeWorks & Catering stepped in. On October 28, JJ’s announced they would begin offering free, hot meals on Wednesdays during the shutdown to help SNAP recipients who suddenly found themselves without support.
JJ wrote that “once a week, on Wednesdays, we’ll be offering free meals for SNAP families - just bring your SNAP card and ID." He asked for honesty about household size so they could feed as many families as possible, and added that kids would always be taken care of.
