KEYSTONE, Iowa (KCRG) - A Benton County bakery is working to fill the gap with free meals if SNAP benefits stop due to the shutdown.Main Street Bakery and Cafe in Keystone started a pay it forward campaign, aiming to pass out free meals to people dependent on SNAP benefits. Since then, the bakery’s owner said the community has stepped up.Kassie Mather owns Main Street Bakery and Cafe in Keystone. Depending on the day, her bakery has a little bit of everything from pizzas and sandwiches to Halloween-themed cakes. But when ...
KEYSTONE, Iowa (KCRG) - A Benton County bakery is working to fill the gap with free meals if SNAP benefits stop due to the shutdown.
Main Street Bakery and Cafe in Keystone started a pay it forward campaign, aiming to pass out free meals to people dependent on SNAP benefits. Since then, the bakery’s owner said the community has stepped up.
Kassie Mather owns Main Street Bakery and Cafe in Keystone. Depending on the day, her bakery has a little bit of everything from pizzas and sandwiches to Halloween-themed cakes. But when she saw the news that SNAP benefits could expire Friday night due to the government shutdown, she figured she would help out.
“Small towns, you know you want to take care of your neighbor because you know all of your neighbors and they know you, and you know if you needed something that they would step in, so if you can step in and help them then most people are more than willing to do that,” Mather said.
On Tuesday, Mather put out a Facebook message that started a pay it forward campaign to get people free meals. By Thursday, she had received more than $1,200 and put up a coupon wall that anyone can use to redeem free meals, no questions asked.
“I’ve gotten anything from like a $5 donation to, I had a gentleman call in yesterday and donated $250, which is amazing,” Mather said.
Food banks across eastern Iowa say they’re seeing more people come in for food, but in Keystone, the nearest food bank is a 15 minute drive away.
“If you’re housebound or don’t have gas money, it’s hard to get there,” Mather said.
Mather said years ago, before she grew her business, she relied on food assistance programs. Now, she hopes to fill the gap as SNAP remains in doubt.
“Now that I have a little extra, I want to give back to people who might need a step up to also put themselves in a position someday where they don’t need to rely on it,” Mather said.