Endowment for a free restaurant?

Musing #2

As I walked my dog today, I was listening to Plant Money Summer School’s Govt 2: How taxes change behavior and the economy. While they were talking about the Earned Income Tax Credit, I had a thought about creating an endowment for a free restaurant.

Here is what I was thinking: a large donation to establish an endowment, with the income from it covering the food and all expenses (including good salaries) for a restaurant serving three meals a day. There would be a limited number of seats and some rules for expectations of behavior (such as not taking food home, putting only what you would eat on your plate, not overstaying to talk and socialize, allowing others to eat, etc.). Individuals would also have the opportunity to view the restaurant's expenses and contribute to bonuses or a savings account to help open another restaurant with the donations. Donations are not required.

This would also be a social experiment on generosity and how providing food helps individuals become food secure and move out of poverty. I know a lot is missing from this, but could providing a safety net help lift people out of poverty? We also know that people who are not hungry or fearing they will not be able to find their next meal often end up not performing well in their jobs. Could this help?