Houston restaurant serves federal workers for free as government shutdown continues
At Lasagna House in Spring, the smell of fresh pasta fills the kitchen, but this week, the focus is on something else — giving back. As the government shutdown continues, restaurant owner Matt Vernon says no federal worker in his community should go hungry.
A Small Business Owner With a Big Mission
At Lasagna House in Spring, the smell of fresh pasta fills the kitchen, but this week, the focus is on something else — giving back. As the government shutdown continues, restaurant owner Matt Vernon says no federal worker in his community should go hungry.
He’s offering free meals through an effort called Furlough Friday, inviting any federal employee who shows an ID to come in for a pasta bowl or lasagna, salad, bread, and iced tea — no cost, no questions.
“Everybody that works hard deserves a good meal,” Vernon said. “Federal workers are out there every single day doing their part, and right now they’re not getting paid for it. So we want to say thank you, tell them we see them, and take care of them.”
Why This Matters in Houston
Houston has one of the largest federal workforces in Texas, with more than 36,000 federal employees working at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, airport security, and other federal agencies across the metro area. Many are now missing paychecks as the shutdown continues, stretching household budgets and morale.
For Vernon, the gesture is personal. He says faith, family, and the Houston community helped him rebuild his business after years of setbacks.
Who Is Matt Vernon
Vernon’s story at Lasagna House began 25 years ago. He started as a waiter, worked his way up to manager, and eventually became the owner. He rebuilt the restaurant after a fire, weathered Hurricane Harvey’s damage, and survived the challenges of COVID.
“When we first bought the place, a year after we bought the place, there was a fire that burned the restaurant down,” he said. “After we rebuilt, Hurricane Harvey comes along just down the city. Then after the city rebuilds, COVID comes along. But it is through persistence, great food, serving our community, and God’s blessing that we’re still here.”
Faith, Food, and Community
Every dish served at Lasagna House is made the old-fashioned way — sauces simmered in-house, bread baked fresh, and recipes passed down through generations. For Vernon, food is more than a business. It’s his way of helping people.
“I think God likes having Christians that are restaurant owners,” he said. “For me, my call is to feed people. That’s my gift. That is my superpower.”
He calls Furlough Friday an act of faith and gratitude, saying Houston supported him through years of rebuilding, and this is his chance to return the kindness.
Support From the Community
When Vernon posted the offer on Facebook, the response was immediate. The comments section filled with messages from customers, federal workers, and other small business owners.
“As a Federal employee, I appreciate seeing this support,” one worker wrote. “My spirit’s been down these past few days.”
Another added, “I’d like to pay for someone’s meal. How can I do this?”Others praised Vernon’s generosity, with one writing, “This is why you’re the best — turning faith into action.”
Vernon says customers have already offered to sponsor meals for federal workers who come in on Friday.
Helping Beyond the Table
The restaurant is also providing short-term work opportunities to federal employees who need extra income while waiting for pay.
“Right now we’re in wedding season and we do a lot of weddings,” Vernon said. “If they want to come and help us out and earn some extra money, we want to try to help as much as we can. Federal employees are hard workers; there’s no doubt about that.”
A Challenge to Other Businesses
Vernon hopes Furlough Friday inspires others to join the effort.
“I’m gonna try to put a challenge out there for some of my friends to sit there and say, hey, it’d be cool if we could do a free donut, a free kolache, a free coffee — anything that we can do to spread the message for our furloughed friends,” he said.
The Heart of Houston
For Matt Vernon, Furlough Friday is about more than free meals. It’s a reminder of what community means in Houston — people helping one another when times get hard.
“Everybody deserves to eat,” he said. “We just want to remind people that kindness still matters.”
If You Go
Furlough Friday will take place at the Lasagna House location in Spring. Federal employees can show their federal ID for a free meal. Customers who wish to support the effort can contact the restaurant directly.
