River Bistro serving free meals to furloughed federal workers

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Get it while it's hot at River Bistro in Detroit.

That's where owner and Chef Maxcel Hardy is cooking up curry chicken for federal workers at no charge. It turns out there is such a thing as a free lunch.

"We have restaurants and different businesses that are doing stuff for the government workers and it kind of lifts morale up," said Hardy.

Wednesday was day 33 of the partial government shutdown. Some 800,000 workers have gone without pay - and Hardy says it hits close to home.

"I go to airports every day, I'm traveling, I see government workers," he said. "We have people that come in here that are government workers before this happened. so I just wanted to show some love and give support back."

Compassion and goodwill makes it makes for a good neighbor and good business.

River Bistro is serving the free meals to workers with a valid ID from now until 8 p.m. Friday and that could change if the shutdown continues.

"I'm committed to go as long as I need to," Hardy said. "We had two amazing families that came in earlier and they were in tears."

A restaurant in St. Clair Shores is also giving lunches to members of the St. Clair Shores Coast Guard. Many other restaurants there have followed suit, too. 

Restaurants and companies have also banded together to provide lunches and a food pantry to TSA agents at Detroit Metro Airport.