SNAP Funding in Our Community: What You Need to Know
As many are aware, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be distributed on November 1st due to the government shutdown. SNAP, also known as food stamps, is a federal program that provides low-income families monthly benefits to afford healthy food. In Tennessee alone, nearly 700,000 residents receive SNAP benefits each month.
While there are many consequences to this lapse in funding, the most important is the number of individuals and families that will not have access to basic food items through the program's benefits. In United Way of South Central Tennessee's seven-county service area, nearly 45,000 individuals that are enrolled will experience a $9.5 million lapse in funding for November alone (based on data via tn.gov).
In the past week alone, our region's calls to 211 for food assistance resources have doubled - echoing a community-wide concern regarding the lack of SNAP funding. 211 is a free and confidential service helping people find the local resources they need for help in times of crisis and beyond.
At United Way of South Central Tennessee, we believe that everyone in our community deserves the chance to thrive - starting with the most basic needs like shelter, health, water, and food. Join us in supporting our neighbors in need by giving back in one of the following ways:
1. Contribute financially. We have established an Emergency Food Assistance Fund for our seven-county service area. Make a monetary donation with confidence that your gift will support the community organizations that are reaching those in need of food assistance. Click here to contribute to the Emergency Food Assistance Fund.
2. Volunteer your time. Many organizations need more volunteers due to the increase in client volume. Check out Second Harvest Food Bank or Nourish Food Bank for volunteer opportunities. Volunteer Connect is always a great resource for volunteer opportunities near you.
3. Spread the word about local resources. 211 is a free and confidential service to connect people with local resources in times of crisis. Second Harvest Food Finder allows you to search by zip code, select a county, or choose a location type to find a location near you. We've compiled a list of resources by county that we will update as we receive more information.
Bedford County
Good Samaritan / Bedford
201 East Highland
Shelbyville, TN 37160
931.684.8160
Shelbyville Soup Kitchen
336 S Cannon Blvd
Shelbyville, TN 37160
(931) 735-6122
Website
Cannon
Cannon County Food Bank
301 West Main Street
Woodbury, TN 37190
Cannon County Senior Center
609 W. Lehman St.
Woodbury, TN 37190
615-563-5304
Website
Coffee
Catholic Charities Serves Neighbors / Coffee
103 SE Atlantic St.
Tullahoma 37388
931.563.7770
Website
The Storehouse Food Pantry
607 Hickerson Street
Manchester, TN 37355
931.409.6040
Website
Lincoln
Hands of Mercy Outreach
101 Easy Street
Fayetteville, TN 37334
931.433.4263
Website
Moore
Moore County Resource Center
241 Main Street
Lynchburg 37352
931.434.6808
Website
Rutherford
Nourish Food Bank - Murfreesboro
1809 Memorial Blvd
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
615.203.3963
Website
Greenhouse Ministries
309 S Spring Street
307 S Academy Street (office)
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
615.494.0499
Website
Nourish Food Bank- Smyrna
130 Richardson Street
Smyrna, TN 37167
615.355.0697
Website
The Journey Home
1207 Old Salem Road
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
615.809.2644
Website
Warren
Helping Hands of Warren County
220 East Main Street
McMinnville, TN 37110
931.507.9070
Website
We will continue to update this page with resources as they become available.