Davenport Restaurant Offers Free Meals to Furloughed Federal Workers

It was the late, great Fred Rogers, better known as Mr. Rogers, who once said that when he was a little boy, and would see scary or unusual things on the news, his mother would tell him to "look for the helpers." There are always people willing to help in times of struggle and strife.

That's exactly what one Davenport, IA restaurant is doing. In lieu of the ongoing government shutdown, which is now in its 14th day, an eatery is giving free meals to furloughed and/or unpaid federal workers whose jobs are presently in limbo.

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A Family-Run Restaurant in Davenport is Trying to Provide Some Relief:

Enter Apjeet Makkar and his family, who run Flavors of India, an Indian restaurant in Davenport. They are offering free meals for federal workers for as long as the shutdown lasts. All they have to do is show their badge or proof of occupation. So far, around 15 to 20 people stop by the restaurant a day, Makkar told WQAD.

A free meal goes a long way, and Flavors of India has a lot of traditional Indian cuisine from which to choose. They are a highly rated restaurant in Davenport, located on East 53rd Street.

The Community is Overjoyed by the Hospitality:

WQAD caught up with Abbey Soto, a federal worker who is an "expected employee," meaning she's going to work but not receiving a paycheck. She worries about her mortgage, her electricity and water bills. She's grateful for Flavors of India for at least easing some of the burden on her and her family.

The Makkar family believe "feeding people selflessly" is essential to their Sikhist beliefs. They see themselves as making a difference in society. The community of Davenport concurs they certainly are.

Flavors of India once offered free meals back in May 2025 to celebrate their six-year anniversary. This time around, however, the move is greater in its significance. It's helping people in the community who are truly struggling at the moment.

The ongoing government shutdown is only the 11th in U.S. history, and the third under President Donald Trump. Roughly 900,000 federal employees have been furloughed, and another 700,000 are working without pay. Agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, and the CDC, have faced partial or full suspensions of operations.

Read more about Flavors of India offering free meals to furloughed workers on WQAD's website.