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Nolensville Food Pantry 

 Photo: Hamilton Matthew Masters

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. 

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 Williamson County residents experiencing food insecurity year-round. Read about some of those below.

 Nolensville Food Pantry, a ministry of Providence Baptist Church, is open to the public once per week — Thursdays 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. It is hosting a charity event on Nov. 2. It is located at 1668 Sunset Rd. 

The Well Outreach is offering a mobile pantry on Nov. 8 at Spring Hill High School in partnership with Second Harvest. It also has a food pantry in Spring Hill at 5306 Main St. Volunteer opportunities are available for both programs. 

GraceWorks Ministries in Franklin offers food distribution by appointment and with identification. Households can receive the food once every 30 days. It also offers a mobile food pantry on at Fairview Middle School, with the next distribution set for Nov. 15 at 8 a.m. The faith-based organization is also accepts food donations. 

One Generation Away offers a drive-thru mobile pantry on Saturdays starting at 8:45 a.m. and ending by 10:30 a.m. The next Williamson County distribution is set for Nov. 22 at Church of the City Franklin. It also offers weekly grocery deliveries to homes within its service area. There are volunteer opportunities available at the organization warehouse and mobile pantry. 

One Generation Away has also invited people affected by government furlough to pick up a food box at its warehouse Monday through Friday 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at 320 Premier Court, Ste 218 in Franklin. No registration or paper work is required to receive the food. 

If you know of a resource that's not included in this post, send us a tip at editor@williamsonscene.com.  

A previous, Nashville-specific version of this article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Scene.