If the government shutdown has not resolved by Nov. 1, more than 600,000 Tennesseans will see a lapse in their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits.
Without federal money, Gov. Lee says state is unable to backstop SNAP with $2.1 billion Rainy Day Fund
Even so, when the shutdown comes to an end and benefits are restored, between 50,000 and 100,000 are set to lose SNAP coverage due to a change in work requirements prompted by the Trump administration. SNAP provides low- and no-income families with money to buy food, which is allotted on a restricted card.
Tennessee House Democrats have urged Gov. Bill Lee to call a special session on the matter, and on Monday Virginia and Louisiana governors declared emergency orders to cover benefits for their state’s emergency orders. In addition, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn supported a bill to keep SNAP funded during the shutdown. Lee noted Friday that the state will not dip into the state’s $2.1 billion Rainy Day Fund to cover the gap, for which he blamed logistical issues and Democrats in Congress.
Local organizations step in to help Nashvillians experiencing food insecurity year-round. Read about some of those below.
Nonprofit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee distributes food at 25 locations in the greater Nashville area, including food banks in West Nashville at Dream Streets, Salvation Army Nashville South and in North Nashville at McGruder Family Resource Center. Second Harvest also has food-sorting volunteer opportunities and accepts donations at its warehouse in Nashville.
Food banks stocked by Second Harvest include those at the Martha O’Bryan Center in East Nashville, Inspiritus in Salemtown, East Nashville Care Market and St. Luke’s Community House in The Nations. All of the Second Harvest locations are connected, and there is a limited amount of food a family can get on a monthly basis. Families must bring photo ID for all adults and some form of identification for children at all Second Harvest Food Banks.
Both Dream Streets and Second Harvest also offer a mobile food pantry at various locations in Nashville.
The Nashville Community Fridge is accepting donations of money and homemade meals (individually packaged, labeled with ingredients and dated). The free fridge and pantry are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day and are located behind Watershed Collective at 412 Gallatin Pike in Madison.
The Paisleys' no-cost food pantry is set to open at the TriStar Centennial Medical Center
The Store, located at 2009 12th Ave. S., offers free grocery shopping for those in need on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Volunteer-scheduling nonprofit Hands On Nashville has an extensive list of volunteer opportunities specifically addressing food insecurity.
The Nashville Food Project, which delivers meals to area nonprofits that serve people in need, also has volunteer and donation opportunities.
Find a schedule of free meals for each day of the week through Where to Turn in Nashville.
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