With the future uncertain for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients who have had their benefits paused amid a federal government shutdown, East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards is kicking off a program to help feed those affected locally.

On Monday, Edwards announced the "A Table for All" initiative — a weeklong partnership with a handful of Baton Rouge restaurants to offer free meals to residents who present valid SNAP cards.

"We know the government shutdown has affected everyone," Edwards said at a news conference at St. Vincent de Paul Monday. "And if I can tell you what's not going to happen in Baton Rouge and what's not going to happen in the parish, our people are not going to go hungry."

The SNAP program officially ran out of federal funding on Nov. 1 due to

See Full Page