Some local restaurants and businesses are preparing to help fill the gap for the nearly 900,000 Arizonans waiting for federal food assistance. And some businesses are also bracing for a financial hit.
In Arizona, the average household using federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits receives over $350 a month to buy food. With November funds delayed, Michael Negron with the Center for American Progress, says about 4,000 Arizona retailers could face financial risk.
“And that’s a real hit at a time when you already have businesses grappling with the impact of the president’s tariffs as well as higher costs generally," Negron said.
Those retailers include certain Circle K, Family Dollar and McDonald's.
Some businesses planning to help include LoveBite Dumplings in downtown Phoenix, which aims to give out over 700 meals.
CEO Angel Gould says that is thanks to donations. And it’s also an extension of what they already do.
“One of the things that we don’t normally advertise is that we do feed the community regardless of if they can pay or not," Gould said.
