On Monday afternoon, those in our community who depend on a little extra help to survive received the worst possible news. Due to the continued federal government shutdown, the Tennessee Department of Human Services received notification from the USDA that if the shutdown continues, federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for all Tennesseans for November will be unavailable.
Formerly referred to as “food stamps,” SNAP is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutritional assistance initiative administered at the state level. In Tennessee, SNAP is managed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS).
SNAP benefits are available to families with children, as well as disabled, and elderly Tennesseans and able-bodied adults without dependents who work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week. You must be a resident and U.S. citizen to qualify and be at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty line.
In 2022, nearly 734,000 people in Tennessee received snap benefits and roughly 87 percent of SNAP-receiving households in the state were below the poverty line. Only 22 percent of those households had income from wages or work – leaving many with limited or no-earnings.
Local agencies look to fill the gap
With federal and state aid on pause, those needs will likely to shift to local nonprofits to fill the gap.
We spoke to Robyn LaCook of the Moore County Resource Center (MCRC) about the potential shutdown and she told us that Second Harvest anticipates their November food orders to be filled because they were placed prior to the federal shutdown. However, she said any orders after that would be uncertain until Washington re-opens the government.
The MCRC administers the USDA Commodities program here in Moore County in coordination with Second Harvest. They plan the monthly food giveaway for Tuesday, November 11 beginning at 8 a.m. at Moorehead Pavilion or the American Legion Building (in the case of bad weather).
You must register for the event at the MCRC offices located in the basement of the County Building prior to the giveaway. They are open Tuesdays and Fridays from 9-1 a.m. or you may also register the day of the giveaway prior to 8 a.m. You must be a Tennessee resident and meet the income based on household ratio size.
The MCRC perishables program does not require prior registration and happens on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the USDA food giveaway days, according to LaCook.
For more information, reach out to the local Moore County Resource Agency at 931-434-6808. For more information on Tennessee’s SNAP program, click here. •
About The Lynchburg Times
The Lynchburg Times is an independent, woman-owned newspaper rooted in the heart of southern middle Tennessee. Led by a Tulane-educated journalist with over two decades of experience covering this region, we shine a light on the people, politics, and cultural pulse of a changing South. From breaking news to slow storytelling, we believe local journalism should inform, empower, and preserve what makes this place unique. Supported by readers and community partners, we’re proud to be part of the new Southern narrative – one story at a time. [Support us here.]