Governor Bill Lee’s office has provided information on statewide resources available to Tennesseans impacted by the federal government shutdown. The Governor announced the launch of FeedTN.org, a platform that will connect Tennesseans with resources and opportunities to serve.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has informed all states that there will be insufficient funding to cover November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the shutdown continues. Any remaining benefits from previous months may still be accessed in November.
The SNAP program is federally funded and operated, and Tennessee is unable to utilize state dollars to provide the benefit, as states do not have a mechanism to load benefits onto customer cards.
The Governor’s Faith Based and Community Initiative (GFBCI) is communicating daily with a coalition of more than 300 non-profit and faith community leaders to identify needs, share information, and mobilize rapid response across all 95 counties.
Tennesseans should visit FeedTN.org to connect with resources and opportunities to serve. By entering their ZIP code, users may:
• Find local food distribution and volunteer opportunities
• Contribute directly with food donations or financial gifts to vetted community partners
• Access ready-to-use communication assets for houses of worship and organizations to inform their communities
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) has collaborated with a number of state departments, in addition to the Governor’s Faith Based and Community Initiative and Tennessee Serves, to identify resources for Tennesseans who may be facing food insecurity due to the shutdown.
Rural and farming communities are the backbone of Tennessee’s food supply, and the SNAP program supports farmers, grocers, and retailers across the state’s rural economies. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) continues to administer The Emergency Food Assistance Program in partnership with Tennessee’s five regional food banks to strengthen access to nutritious foods statewide.
TennCare’s CHOICES program provides a daily meal delivery benefit for older adults and adults with physical disabilities enrolled in the program. This benefit will continue despite the federal government shutdown, and adults enrolled in TennCare should reach out to their health plan if they need help requesting this benefit. Through TennCare’s Community Compass website, Tennesseans may connect with local organizations offering free or low-cost services such as medical care, food assistance, job training, and more.
Additional Food Resources:
• Mid-South Food Bank: https://www.midsouthfoodbank.org/find-food
• Chattanooga Area Food Bank: https://chattfoodbank.org/hungry
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee: https://netfoodbank.org/help/
• Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee: https://secondharvestetn.org/find-a-food-pantry/
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee: https://www.secondharvestmidtn.org/find-resources/find-food/
Additional Community Resources:
• TN Community Compass: https://communitycompass.tn.gov/
• TN Disability Pathfinder: https://www.tnpathfinder.org/
Dial 2-1-1, or search for local resources online:
• Chattanooga 2-1-1: https://team211.communityos.org
• Memphis 2-1-1: https://team211.communityos.org/linc211memphis
• Nashville 2-1-1: https://team211.communityos.org/homepage-uwgn
• Knoxville 2-1-1: https://easttn211.communityos.org
Individuals and organizations who would like to assist with food donations and additional support services may fill out the form here.
TDHS is closely monitoring the federal government shutdown, and will update their website as more information becomes available.