Raising Cane’s opened a second Gainesville location Wednesday at 3433 SW Archer Road.
The opening’s “Lucky 20” giveaway drawing awarded 20 customers with “Free Cane’s for a Year!” A mixed crowd of college students and local families lined up around the corner for the chance to win. For some, the raffle represented much more than just free food; it promised financial relief.
The store opened at 10 a.m. The Florida Gators cheering squad rallied the crowd as early as 8 a.m., blasting music. People eagerly waited in line as they received a badge with their number and their raffle ticket.
Isabel Cannella, a 22-year-old UF health science graduate, arrived at 6 a.m., treating the pavement like a study space with a foldable chair, computer and headphones.
"I was studying for my MCAT, which is on Saturday,” Cannella said. “We just passed the time by doing that."
For other students, the drawing was a high-stakes calculation. Odessa De Runtz, a 23-year-old UF journalism senior, stood 86th in line, feeling optimistic after calculating her odds with her father.
"It's funny because when I was talking to my dad, he was like, 'Oh, you've got a one in 500 chance,'" De Runtz said. "But actually, if they're drawing 20 people, I'm probably one out of every five chosen."
De Runtz, who goes to the Raising Cane's location near the campus library during intense study sessions, noted the win would provide significant relief during a stressful academic year.
As a student who relies on fast food when she spends an entire day working on assignments, De Runtz said it would be helpful to know food would be taken care of on a regular basis.
Nearly a quarter of college students experienced food insecurity in 2020, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, serves as a critical safety net for more than 42 million Americans each month, according to a Harvard Kennedy School explainer tracking recent federal policy. However, recent federal budget changes, such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, have injected deep uncertainty into the program, leaving vulnerable populations facing partial payments or a total loss of coverage.
Raffle entries closed about an hour after the event began on Wednesday. The atmosphere shifted from excitement to people clutching tickets in hand as Miss Gainesville 2026, Tia Unsell, announced the winning numbers.
Screams of disbelief were heard as winners ran around the building from the back of the line to claim their prizes.
"Once they called my name, I was like, ‘Wait, this is the best thing that's ever happened to me,’" De Runtz said immediately after her win.
Lizzie Almendarez and her husband, George, boasted their second victory at Wednesday’s giveaway. The couple previously won the same raffle prize at the grand opening of the West University Avenue location.
The prize carries a deep personal significance for Almendarez, whose family relies on a single income to support themselves and their baby.
"When I won free Cane's the first time, later that year, I ended up being pregnant with my baby," Almendarez said. She gave birth 23 weeks earlier than the couple expected.
During her hospital stay in Orlando, a friend used Almendarez’s prize card to bring her comfort food. Now back at a grand opening with her child, the second win is special.
Almendarez said her family is excited to again get free meals every month.
But for every name called, dozens of others were left empty-handed, highlighting the financial stakes for students waiting in line.
Lucas Denmanuel-Thue, a 24-year-old UF art history senior graduating this summer, works full time. He hoped for a break in his grueling schedule as he watched the drawing.
Despite having a full-time job, he said he doesn’t earn much.
“It would have been a huge financial relief to know I got three meals [per month] for free if I need to call on that," Denmanuel-Thue said.
Samenta Rislin is a contributing writer for The Alligator.
