SLO bakery offers free bread to SNAP recipients during government shutdown
As federal food benefits shuttered amid the longest-ever government shutdown, one local San Luis Obispo business is bringing light to the community and supporting those in need.
Bread Bike Bakery, located at 2060 Parker St., is offering a free loaf of bread to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — or SNAP — recipients every week of November, the bakery posted on Instagram.
“It just seemed like the right thing to do,” Owner Matt Gamarra told The Tribune. “I’ve always believed bakers are meant to feed people, and bread is such a staple.”
The federal food assistance program — which provides a preloaded debit card to qualified applicants that can be used at grocery stores and farmers’ markets — helps millions of Americans eat every month, including 29,000 recipients in SLO County.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last month that all SNAP payments would stop during the government shutdown, which is now in its fifth week.
The Trump administration has since promised to pay partial benefits, but it would only provide about half of what is needed. Local representatives say the administration is withholding contingency funds it could use to cover the program.
How SNAP recipients can get free bread at SLO bakery
Bread Bike went through the application process to be able to accept SNAP payment earlier this year, but did not qualify for the program, the Instagram post said. However, that has not stopped the bakery from helping those in need.
Even if benefits are reinstated, Bread Bike said it will still hand out a free Country loaf of bread to anyone with a valid SNAP debit card and a matching ID as long as supplies last, the post said.
“Come on by this month and let others know who may need some fresh bread while their benefits are suspended,” the post said.
The bakery is producing an extra 20-40 loaves per day to support SNAP recipients, and have been handing out about that many since the start of the month, Gamarra said. So far they haven’t had to turn anyone away empty-handed, and he hopes it will remain that way.
Bread Bike is a community-supported shop, Gamarra said, so “this is just a small way to give back to that community.”
The comments section of the post was flooded with messages of support and appreciation from the community.
“What an amazing gesture to the community,” one commenter said. “And your bread is amazing.”
“How can we help?” another added.
Bread Bike is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
