Communities across the country unite to provide free food amid SNAP benefits delays
PAYMENT WILL ROLL OUT. BUT FIRST PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER JORDAN CIOPPA MEETING A LOCAL FAMILY GOING VIRAL FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO FEED NEIGHBORS. SHE JOINS US FROM WHITEHALL, ALLEGHENY COUNTY. AJ OWEN AND HIS SONS ARE TURNING THEIR FRONT YARD INTO A FOOD PANTRY. BOXES OF FOOD, CANNED GOODS AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE IN THESE BINS FOR ANYONE NEEDING SOME EXTRA HELP. AND NOW THIS MISSION. THEY STARTED JUST OVER A WEEK AGO, IS REACHING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. PEOPLE WANT TO HELP. IF YOU GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP, THEY WILL HELP. AJ OWENS FRONT YARD TURNED FOOD PANTRY IS PROOF OF THAT. WE STARTED WITH WITH ONE TOE AND TWO HAND COOLERS AND NOW I’VE GOT PEOPLE ASS…
Communities across the country unite to provide free food amid SNAP benefits delays
PAYMENT WILL ROLL OUT. BUT FIRST PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER JORDAN CIOPPA MEETING A LOCAL FAMILY GOING VIRAL FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO FEED NEIGHBORS. SHE JOINS US FROM WHITEHALL, ALLEGHENY COUNTY. AJ OWEN AND HIS SONS ARE TURNING THEIR FRONT YARD INTO A FOOD PANTRY. BOXES OF FOOD, CANNED GOODS AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE IN THESE BINS FOR ANYONE NEEDING SOME EXTRA HELP. AND NOW THIS MISSION. THEY STARTED JUST OVER A WEEK AGO, IS REACHING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. PEOPLE WANT TO HELP. IF YOU GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP, THEY WILL HELP. AJ OWENS FRONT YARD TURNED FOOD PANTRY IS PROOF OF THAT. WE STARTED WITH WITH ONE TOE AND TWO HAND COOLERS AND NOW I’VE GOT PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEELERS REACHING OUT AND COMING BY TOMORROW TO TO DONATE. LAST SUNDAY, OWEN AND HIS SEVEN AND NINE YEAR OLD SONS DECIDED THEY WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE USING SNAP BENEFITS BY MAKING FREE FOOD AVAILABLE IN FRONT OF THEIR WHITEHALL HOME. BY THE NEXT MORNING, WE HAD EVERYTHING OUT. ABOUT 70% OF IT WAS GONE. HE POSTED IN LOCAL FACEBOOK GROUPS TO SPREAD THE WORD. COME SATURDAY, OWEN WALKED OUTSIDE TO THE UNEXPECTED. I JUST LOOKED AT MY MAILBOX. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? INSIDE THE CARD, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CASH. OWEN POSTED ABOUT THE ANONYMOUS DONATION IN A NOW VIRAL TIKTOK VIDEO. MORE THAN 12 MILLION VIEWS AND 3 MILLION LIKES LATER, HIS MISSION IS SPREADING TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TAGGED ME IN THEIR VIDEOS AND THEIR PHOTOS SAYING, HEY, YOU INSPIRED ME, AND HERE’S WHAT WE’VE DONE IN OUR STATE, IN OUR CITY, AND HERE AT HOME. I SAW IT ON TIKTOK, AND I JUST WAS VERY MOVED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO START SOMETHING SO SMALL, AND THEN IT BECAME THIS BIG COMMUNITY EVENT. FOR RIGHT NOW, I’M JUST GONNA HAVE YOU PUT EVERYTHING IN HERE. WE GOT SOME BREAKFAST GOODS, SOME PANCAKE MIX, SIRUP. WE GOT A LOT OF PASTA. THOSE DONATIONS ADDED TO THE EVER GROWING FRONT YARD FOOD PANTRY. WHEN IT COMES TO THE MONEY IN THE MAILBOX, OWEN HAS ALREADY PUT THE FIRST $700 OF IT TO GOOD USE. THE PERSON WHO DROPPED OFF THE ENVELOPE, FULL OF CASH. I’M SURE I’LL NEVER KNOW WHO THEY ARE. AND NO MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE, I THINK THAT’S A THAT’S A REAL LIFE ANGEL. THE FOOD PANTRY IS OPEN 24 OVER SEVEN AND IS LOCATED IN WHITEHALL, BEHIND THE CASSIE VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER. COVERING ALL
Communities across the country unite to provide free food amid SNAP benefits delays
Updated: 2:19 PM CST Nov 5, 2025
People across the country are coming together to create unique and free food opportunities amid delays in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown.In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a dad and his young sons’ mission to feed the community is touching millions in a now viral video on social media.Last Sunday, AJ Owen and his sons, ages seven and nine, decided they wanted to help people who are losing their SNAP benefits by making free food available in the front yard of their Whitehall home.“By the next morning, we had everything out, about 70% of it was gone,” Owen told Pittsburgh’s WTAE. “That told us immediately there’s a need for this in our area, which is one, we’re so grateful to be able to help, two, so sad that so many people do need this assistance.“Watch the video in the player above.In Birmingham, Alabama, a business owner celebrated her birthday by helping those affected by the government shutdown on Tuesday.Charnita Horton partnered with a dozen food trucks to give out free food. The line was wrapped around the block with more than 300 people. “I remember being in college and I had for ten days,” she said, “but I remember being young and my mom—we used to have WIC. We had to survive.”One couple in Athens, Vermont, decided to take action by creating a free food pantry outside of their home.Krista Gay put together a homemade food pantry using old bins, cardboard, and extra groceries about a week ago to show support to those struggling nearby.Gay and her husband, Christian Rogerson, came up with the idea last Sunday after reading about SNAP benefits expiring and feeling overwhelmed.“My town doesn’t have a food shelf, and I know that there are vulnerable people in my town that don’t even have cars to go to those places,” said Gay.With benefits cut, she said she wanted to find a way to help. The two decided to start a free pantry in their front yard. They said it was simple to put together.“If you don’t have a food pantry in your town that is already able to do something like this, all it takes is some bins, cardboard, and a marker and tape,” said Rogerson.
People across the country are coming together to create unique and free food opportunities amid delays in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown.
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a dad and his young sons’ mission to feed the community is touching millions in a now viral video on social media.
Last Sunday, AJ Owen and his sons, ages seven and nine, decided they wanted to help people who are losing their SNAP benefits by making free food available in the front yard of their Whitehall home.
“By the next morning, we had everything out, about 70% of it was gone,” Owen told Pittsburgh’s WTAE. “That told us immediately there’s a need for this in our area, which is one, we’re so grateful to be able to help, two, so sad that so many people do need this assistance.”
Watch the video in the player above.
In Birmingham, Alabama, a business owner celebrated her birthday by helping those affected by the government shutdown on Tuesday.
Charnita Horton partnered with a dozen food trucks to give out free food. The line was wrapped around the block with more than 300 people.
“I remember being in college and I had [SNAP benefits] for ten days,” she said, “but I remember being young and my mom—we used to have WIC. We had to survive.”
One couple in Athens, Vermont, decided to take action by creating a free food pantry outside of their home.
Krista Gay put together a homemade food pantry using old bins, cardboard, and extra groceries about a week ago to show support to those struggling nearby.
Gay and her husband, Christian Rogerson, came up with the idea last Sunday after reading about SNAP benefits expiring and feeling overwhelmed.
“My town doesn’t have a food shelf, and I know that there are vulnerable people in my town that don’t even have cars to go to those places,” said Gay.
With benefits cut, she said she wanted to find a way to help. The two decided to start a free pantry in their front yard. They said it was simple to put together.
“If you don’t have a food pantry in your town that is already able to do something like this, all it takes is some bins, cardboard, and a marker and tape,” said Rogerson.***