"It means a lot. I'm very grateful and thankful," said Durham resident Brenda Davis. "I'm hoping that we do receive (full funding) because a lot of kids, they're going to need it, too."
Throughout the morning and early afternoon, hundreds of community members stopped by the restaurant for their choice of a ham or turkey sandwich box, complete with chips, fruit, and a small dessert.
"It's so heartbreaking," said The Chicken Hut owner Tre Tapp. "Earlier, there was a gentleman with tears in his eyes thanking us, and I had to tell him it'll be all right. Hopefully, this will be all over soon."
On Monday afternoon, a federal judge in Boston continued to block the Trump administration from enforcing a USDA memo that directed states to undo full SNAP benefits that were made last week.
"It would seem to me that if the agency is trying to comply with the law and with the executive branch's preferences on policies, a piece of that wouldn't be trying to play vindictive games with the states. That's not part of it," said Judge Indira Talwani, who rebuked the Trump administration and accused it of trying to play "vindictive games" with the states.
Heading into the weekend, North Carolina sent full SNAP benefits to a number of residents. The agency said 586,000 North Carolinians received partial payment.
"People are hungry right now, and people don't have food right now, and you're taking the position that you can't touch it," added Talwani.
Meanwhile, Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Raleigh found itself giving away hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds of free sweet potatoes.
"As long as we help the people, it's great," said organizer Cleveland Sanders. "It makes you happy. It really do. Makes you happy that you did something for the people."
Nearby educator, Brianna Roach, left work to grab a bag of sweet potatoes in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
"I'm just so grateful that when we're in a time of need like this that farmers have taken the initiative to supply food for us. Because some would think that if we can't help ourselves, we couldn't survive," said Roach. "It's just about good faith, goodwill, and good people."
Meanwhile, an official with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said the agency plans to issue full SNAP benefits once the federal government authorizes it to do so.
As an aside, Senate Democrats voted Sunday night to include a provision in their deal to reopen the government that would provide full funding for SNAP until Sept. 30, 2026.
However, the immediate future for when states can issue those entitlements remains in limbo until the government fully reopens.
"(Lawmakers) should know by now how thankful and grateful we are to have these programs," added Davis.