The Paseo District, known for its vibrant art scene and restaurants, is also home to a unique community resource: Flora Bodega’s “freedge.” This small wooden pantry, located just outside the store, is open 24/7 for anyone to drop off or take food as needed.
Owner Angela Renee Chase explained, the freedge has seen increased traffic recently – this uptick coincides with delays in SNAP benefits during the government shutdown, affecting seven percent of Flora Bodega’s customers. Chase said, “Speaking on behalf of the cardholders, it has created chaos because a lot of them, they didn’t know like, oh, if I have some money still left on my account… so that was really chaotic and chaotic for us.”
Flora Bodega supports SNAP users by doubling their benefits through a state match program, offering “Double Up — per once a day, matched up to twenty dollars free produce.”…