LYNN — Some incredible acts of kindness are bringing neighbors together amid the SNAP benefit halt — one pizza at a time.
Both Pamino’s Pizza and Alfredo’s Italian Kitchen have launched community-driven initiatives to give away free large cheese pizzas to people who have had their SNAP benefits cut due to the federal government shutdown.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, “Partial SNAP benefits will start to go out next week. The Trump Administration cut the amount of SNAP households can get.”
Pamino’s Pizza & Roast Beef is located at 566 Walnut St., and restaurant manager Leonard Shkambi said the idea came from seeing the struggles and community efforts around them.
“Some people came in and told us about the news regarding SNAP benefits,” Shkambi said.
After posting the offer on a local Facebook page called Lynn Eats, Pamino’s saw an overwhelming response.
“Unexpectedly, Wednesday morning, we got the first order at 10:30, and one by one, we got the rest,” Shkambi said. “Altogether, we gave to the community 104 pizzas on Wednesday.”
He added that as word spreads, more and more people will come in to receive a free cheese pizza. “My expectation for next week, is going to be 150 to 180 pizzas.”
Across town, Alfredo’s Pizza, located at 425 Lynnway, is delivering the same spirit of generosity — just one day earlier. Owner Thaer Demaidi has been offering free large cheese pizzas every Tuesday to residents with EBT cards, and the turnout has been remarkable.
“We feel we are part of this city,” Demaidi said. “When our community [needs us], then we show up. It’s a small gesture, but we hope to make a difference while families wait for benefits to resume.”
The first Tuesday giveaway was a huge success — and a logistical challenge.
“We did over 300 pizzas, but we ran out of dough by five o’clock,” Demaidi explained. “So for next Tuesday, we’re going to try doing it from noon to 3 so everybody’s happy.”
Even after the doors closed, the support didn’t stop there. Demaidi said the shop has received numerous calls from people offering to “pay it forward” and donate toward future events.
“We got many, many call backs from people who want to help out and pay it forward,” he said. “The community’s been good to us for almost 15 years. We’re just trying to give back and help as much as we can — and hopefully the benefits come back to the families soon.”
Both Pamino’s and Alfredo’s are proving that local businesses can make a real impact by simply showing up for their community. What started as isolated acts of generosity have become symbols of unity across Lynn, a reminder that a single pizza can bring people together in hard times.
These local leaders hope others will follow suit. Whether through food, donations, or service, their message is clear: every small act helps.
“I would like all the stores to participate in this so every store in Lynn can help a little bit with this kind of situation,” Shkambi urged. “I would like other stores to join this… because I think this will help. Any donation can help.”
[Editor’s Note: If your business, organization, or restaurant is supporting the community in any way amid the SNAP halt let us know by emailing the Daily Item News Editors, Sophia Harris, at [email protected] or Elizabeth Della Piana at [email protected].]
