Local restaurants in Rockford have joined forces with the Rock River Valley Food Pantry to ensure families do not go hungry amid uncertainty over SNAP benefits.

The Olympic Tavern, a pub on the north side, started a food drive to feed the hungry, but this year the stakes are higher. Owner Zak Rotello initiated a call to action on Facebook, which garnered an overwhelming response.

"Unlike most years, the response has been absolutely overwhelming," said Zak Rotello, owner of The Olympic Tavern. "Both online and in real life, we had three, four bins full of food within 24 hours after we put the call out."

Following Rotello's viral post, other restaurants, including Abreo, joined the effort. Paul Sletten, owner of Abreo, emphasized the ease of participating, stating, "I mean, restaurant peo

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