Harlingen's Panchito's Mexican Restaurant to offer free breakfast tacos during SNAP freeze

A Harlingen restaurant is giving back to the community in the event Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits freeze on Saturday, Nov. 1

Panchito's Mexican Restaurant will be giving out free breakfast tacos to everyone, but are focused on filling the bellies of children and the elderly in need.

"When I heard that SNAP was potentially going to be frozen, and they weren't going to have the benefits, I just thought about all those little kids," said Jeanie Diaz, owner and operator of Panchito's Mexican Restaurant.

"My grandmother is 97 years old and I lost my maternal grandparents in their 90s," Diaz continued. "I just thought, 'If we can just provide a warm meal for them to let them know that they are thought about and they're loved,' then definitely we're going to do that."

Panchito's is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday and is curbside and drive-thru service only. Diaz says all tacos are made to order, so a little wait should be expected.

The restaurant will be doing it every day until benefits are resumed.

This isn't the first time Diaz has given back to the community.

Since 2014, Panchito's Restaurant has had a clothing donation spot at the front of the restaurant.

Diaz said Panchito's will celebrate its 24th anniversary on Nov. 15.