In less than a week, Tony & Alba’s Pizza and Pasta has served meals to 150 kids whose federal food stamps are being cut. Monster Pho in Oakland has distributed at least 130 to-go bags of soup. Meanwhile, Al Pastor Papi, a taqueria in San Francisco’s Union Square, handed out so many free burritos in a single day that the owner can hardly keep up.
Alongside the overwhelming demand from parents striving to feed their children as the government shutdown enters its sixth week, another inspiring phenomenon is taking shape: paying customers are lining up to support these restaurants. They are purchasing extra large orders, donating bags of groceries to give to parents, and in some cases, even handing over $100 bills to help the cause.
“It breaks my heart to think about these kids going hungry,” said Anna Tran, 45, who drove from Milpitas to San Jose to order extra pizzas from Tony & Alba’s, one of the first Bay Area restaurants to announce a giveaway program. “Our families that are working hard, they shouldn’t have to pay the price of what’s going on with our government right now.”
So many cash and food donations have flooded into Tony & Alba’s — an Italian restaurant located across from upscale Santana Row — that owners Al and Diana Vallorz have begun sharing some of their unexpected bounty with other restaurateurs to help them extend their free meals through November. They’ve also offered discounted meals for parents.
On his Instagram page this week, Al Vallorz posted a challenge for other Italian restaurants, delis, pizzerias, and even the “white tablecloth” restaurants of Santana Row to offer free meals to children whose parents present their SNAP debit cards. Inspired by a taco truck owner calling on fellow Mexican restaurants to do the same, Vallorz urged, “I know it’s a tough time, but people are coming in and really need some help. Let’s do it. Have a slice day!”
### SNAP Program and the Impact of the Shutdown
Approximately 5.5 million Californians — about 13% of the state’s population — rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known locally as CalFresh. Nationally, 42 million Americans, or roughly 12%, depend on SNAP. That equates to about 1 in 8 Americans who rely on the government program, which provides an average monthly benefit of $187 per person.
Due to the congressional impasse that led to the shutdown, these benefits were set to stop this week. However, a federal judge’s ruling compelled the Trump Administration to use an emergency fund to partially finance the program. As a result, most benefits are expected to be cut in half, averaging just $3 per day per person.
In the Bay Area, where high rents leave lower-income residents little left for groceries, parents are scrambling to make up the difference. For example, in Santa Clara County, roughly 133,000 people — about 1 in 8 residents — rely on SNAP. In the southern California counties of Tulare and Imperial, about 1 in 4 residents depend on the program. In Alameda County, over 175,000 people (15% of the population) receive SNAP benefits.
### Local Restaurateurs Step Up
At Monster Pho in Alameda County, Tee Tran is serving free to-go bags of pho for children. A refugee with his family from Vietnam in 1989, Tran recalls how his parents and two brothers relied on government assistance during their early years in the U.S. He was inspired by Tony & Alba’s social media post to feed children in need.
“We’re not a big restaurant, and honestly, since the beginning of the year, we’ve lost about 30% of business,” said Tran, 41. “But it makes me feel good to be able to give back to these families and to these kids.”
Numerous customers have brought in bags of groceries for Tran to distribute to SNAP mothers. Sabrina Coleman, for instance, donated five bags of dry goods. While many have also offered cash donations, Tran has politely declined them, encouraging customers instead to dine in or order to go. “When you do that, it helps me keep my doors open,” he said.
Anna Beliel, a mother from Oakland who cares for her two autistic children while her husband works as a cashier, brought her 8-year-old daughter, Marcy Smith, to Monster Pho. Beliel was moved by Tran’s kindness. “He shook my hand. He gave me a hug. It was the best experience I’ve had in all of Oakland, hands down,” she shared tearfully.
In San Jose, Amber Rivera expressed similar gratitude. The single mother, recently credentialed as a teacher but unable to work after a car accident, learned about Tony & Alba’s through a friend. “Honestly, I cried because I just thought, how amazing is that — that the community is stepping up in this time of need?” Rivera said. “I’m going through every little penny, trying to cut corners. I told my daughter it might be just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a while.”
### A Mission of Compassion
For Al and Diana Vallorz, providing free meals is simply living out their faith. “Mother Teresa said, ‘You don’t have to do great things; you just need to do little things with great love,’” Al said, paraphrasing the famous Catholic nun from Calcutta. “So I’m doing little things.”
Others in the community have also made meaningful contributions. Sysco, a multinational food distributor, donated sacks of flour to Tony & Alba’s. C’est Si Bon, a bakery in south San Jose, donated chocolate chip cookies to accompany the slices of pizza and bowls of pasta distributed.
In San Francisco, the demand for burritos at Al Pastor Papi was so high that the taqueria had to impose a 100-burrito-a-day limit. Vallorz plans to support the owner by writing a check to assist.
Meanwhile, in Livermore, Mornings on First has begun offering free breakfasts to children on SNAP. Though only about 10 families had taken advantage by Wednesday morning, 13 patrons had voluntarily added an extra $22 to their bills to “pay it forward” and help cover the cost of these meals.
“I have never seen anything like this,” said server Megan Masters. “It’s really nice to be able to do something like this for the town.”
### Hope Amid Challenges
For the owners of Tony & Alba’s and Monster Pho, their mission is both rewarding and bittersweet.
“When you see the kids, it makes you feel good,” Al Vallorz said. “Then when they leave, you’re wondering if they’re going to get a meal tomorrow.”
As the government shutdown continues to strain families across the Bay Area, these restaurateurs and generous community members provide a beacon of hope, reminding us all that even small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/05/bay-area-restaurants-offering-free-meals-flooded-with-grateful-snap-families-donations/