MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — With SNAP benefits still unfunded, many local businesses are offering ways to help feed their neighbors.

Peter Chiconas is paying it forward, one loaf at a time.

"It's really important for me to give back to the community," Chiconas said. "I just truly believe everyone deserves to eat. I don't think that's controversial to say."

He runs Day Bread Bakers, specializing in Japanese Milk Bread.

Chiconas is the bakery's sole owner and operator, working out of a rented kitchen at Sugar Studio in West Allis.

Over the summer, he started a pay-it-forward program for the community.

"I just went down to the farmers market and said, hey, if you buy a loaf, I'll give it away," Chiconas explained.

When FoodShare benefits lapsed at the start of November, he ramped up the effort.

"I got a few more donations coming in, I was like great, I have more bread," Chiconas said. "Before I knew it, I have this three-hour delivery route tomorrow I'm doing."

Chiconas will be delivering free bread loaves directly to 21 families in need.

"I'm really hoping we can get some more donations. I would do this every single week if I could," he said.

A wave of generosity has been cooking through Milwaukee's small businesses.

"I was raised in a household where we share. If we have food on our table, we're not going to let our neighbors go hungry," said Mia LeTendre.

She is the owner and chef at Strange Town, a vegan restaurant on Milwaukee's east side.

The restaurant is offering free "SNAP soup" to customers that ask for it. It's for anyone in need, regardless of if they're a SNAP recipient.

"Whatever our soup of the day or soup of the week is, we're making extra-large batches, and we have it available for anyone who needs it," LeTendre explained.

She made a post on social media last week asking for monetary donations and soup ingredients, and the community responded immediately.

"We have funds right now to make soup probably throughout the month, depending on the demand," LeTendre said.

In the Walker's Point neighborhood, Midwest Sad's new cafe is doing the same.

"Our plan right now is, regardless of the shutdown and if people get their benefits back, we're still going to be providing soup, regardless, to whoever needs it, as long as we possibly can," said Midwest Sad's owner, Sam Sandrin.

It's a need that Sandrin knows personally.

"It's crazy because I did grow up using SNAP," she said. "As an adult, I used SNAP."

All three businesses shared the same message: neighbors need to look out for each other.

"It's a choice you make as a business owner. You can choose to do something ethically, or you can choose to be only for-profit," Chiconas said. "I think Milwaukee really cares about its community."