Winter Haven bakery providing free meals to SNAP recipients

LAKELAND, Fla. — One bakery is expanding its support efforts as the government shutdown impacts food access for many families.

For the past four years, Honeycomb Bread Bakers has been serving up coffee, pastries and meals to folks in Winter Haven. No matter people’s economic situation, owner Benjamin Vickers says he feels a great responsibility to continue serving his community.

Vickers says ensuring that no one goes hungry is part of the bakery’s core values. So when he learned that SNAP benefits would be impacted by the shutdown, he says he knew he needed to act.

“Our commitment is if you are a SNAP recipient, you can order off our regular menu, you can feed your whole family if you need, you can get coffee, you can get loaves of bread, you can get a hot breakfast and that meal will be comped if you’re a SNAP recipient,” Vickers said.

He says all customers have to do is show their benefit card to an employee. The goal is for the process to be simple and judgment-free.

“Because they are normal guests to us and the only difference is that through donations from our community, we’re able to offer that at no cost,” he said.

Vickers says the initiative will last for the entire duration of the government shutdown. While it may come at a cost to the shop, he says it’s a price he’s willing to pay to be a good neighbor.

“We should all be looking at our neighbors and thinking what do we owe each other, and I’m really proud to be able to do this. It’s a shame it’s up to me, though,” he said.

Vickers says the initiative’s only stipulation is that SNAP recipients take part once a day — but if families need more food, they’ll still be taken care of.