MANCHESTER, Conn. (WFSB) - Thousands of families across the state woke up with no money on their SNAP cards and no way to buy food on Saturday.

This prompted many local businesses to step up and help.

Cheeks Chicken and Waffles on Center Street in Manchester is offering free kids meals during the lapse in SNAP benefits. The restaurant has been busy all day with parents coming in to get chicken nugget meals for their children at no charge.

Owner Haseeb Ahmed, who has a two-year-old, said he understands how difficult and expensive it can be to raise children. He wants to help people in his community who might be struggling.

“I can feel the pain in their eyes. The tears in their eyes. It doesn’t feel good, but it feels good when I give them food. They were all smiling. It makes me [cry]

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