• Hannah Kaminker | Staff
• Nov 5, 2025 (DailyCal.org)

Thirty-six days into the government shutdown — now the longest in U.S. history — two local businesses are dipping into their own funds to provide free and discounted food to the community for those with a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, card.

Following the government shutdown in October, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved $10 million for food security funds, providing support to food banks and electronic benefit transfer, or EBT, distributors. However, many Americans lost SNAP benefits Nov. 1 when federal funding for the program halted.

When SNAP benefits ran out, HP Taco Truck, Monster PHO and Humbowl pulled from their own resources to give back to the community. 

Both HP Taco Truck and Humbowl moved to offer discounts after seeing other small businesses participating in similar programs, said John Tran, the owner of HP Taco Truck, and Eric Wright, the owner of Humbowl.

Tran, who grew up on welfare programs, is giving out free meals to anyone with a valid SNAP card. He said that his work is “giving back to the community that gave (him) a lot.”

Without any subsidies for these programs from the city or county, the cost of these discounts is coming from the business’s own pockets, according to Tran.

“Financial goal wise, no, it’s not a smart move, but my sense of duty to the community … is really important,” Tran said.

Wright, who owns Humbowl, agreed; he added that providing free and discounted meal options is about “making the world a better place.”

The “healthy fast food alternative” restaurant on College Avenue  is offering free bowls for children under 12 and a 25% discount for parents with a valid SNAP card, according to a release providing “General Food Information” from the City of Berkeley’s Health, Housing & Community Services Department. 

Wright made it apparent that these are not strict requirements and that Humbowl’s goal is to feed the community. Wright, who also has a personal connection to SNAP, said the program was able to benefit so many families in his community.

“I feel like it’s our job as a society to make sure that those in need get what they need, and being able to feed our children is arguably the most important thing we can do,” Wright said.

Both Wright and Tran said the community response has been very positive and that community members want to donate to the participating small businesses. They echoed similar sentiments: Although donations are appreciated, such donations were “not necessary.”

Wright said the best way to support the participating businesses is to write positive reviews and to shop locally to keep money in the community.

“If you notice, not a lot of corporations are giving out discounts and stuff like that. I mean, there’s a few … but like the other big boys, they’re not doing sh–,” Tran said. “I just want to let you know that at the end of the day, small business is what drives the community while corporate just takes away from it.”