John Leonard, owner of Struggletown BBQ in Mount Sinai, had a simple reason for helping those about to lose their federal food benefits Saturday due to the government shutdown: "I have a restaurant. I have a kitchen, and people need to eat."

When he announced his plan to provide one free pork pulled or chicken sandwich and a beverage to residents who showed their SNAP card, the idea began to mushroom, with people wanting to give money and volunteer. So he wants to expand his effort to help Long Islanders in need of food.

"What started as a simple idea has grown," Leonard said in a phone interview Thursday. He said he is looking to turn the effort to help recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called food stamps, into an "ongoing program where we can

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