Franklin Graham Announces Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse Will Serve Lunches to Federal Staff Impacted by Government Shutdown

CHARLOTTE and BOONE, N.C., Oct. 31, 2025 — Starting Monday, Nov. 3, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse will offer lunch to federal employees affected by the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. These daily lunches will be available at no charge until the government reopens.
  
“I’m not a politician, but if I were, I would get the government reopened immediately. But until this is taken care of, we want to provide lunch every day—seven days a week—to those workers who have been impacted. We want them to know they are valued—God loves them, and we care about them. Don’t let anyone ever tell you there’s no such thing as a free lunch—because there is!” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse.

Lunch Locations:

• The Billy Graham Library: Parking lot at 4330 Westmont Dr, Charlotte, NC 28217
• The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove: 1 Porters Cove Rd, Asheville, NC 28805
• Samaritan’s Purse, Boone: 801 Bamboo Rd, Boone, NC 28607
• Samaritan’s Purse, North Wilkesboro: 401 Elkin Hwy, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
• Samaritan’s Purse, Greensboro: 1 Samaritan Ln, Greensboro, NC 27409 

Additional Details:

Who is eligible: Available to all affected federal employees—judicial and law enforcement, regulatory and civil services, and military, including National Guard and National Reserve. Must hold a valid federal government ID.

When:

• Beginning Monday, Nov. 3
• Every day during the duration of the government shutdown
• Lunch hours: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.