Governor Lee providing funding for food banks as SNAP benefits impacted by shutdown

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is providing funding for food banks as the government shutdown continues, impacting SNAP benefits.

Following court orders, the Trump administration announced that it will partially fund SNAP benefits, which had lapsed at the beginning of the month due to the government shutdown. The emergency fund that the government says it will tap into only has around $4,500,000,000, creating more uncertainty as the government shutdown continues. In a statement posted on social media, Lee said he was grateful to nonprofits for helping Tennesseans

in their time of need.

“To strengthen these efforts, I’m announcing $5 million in new state funding for food banks. Grants will be allocated based on SNAP populations in each region. I appreciate the Trump Administration’s efforts to deliver some relief for the most vulnerable Tennesseans — but the only true solution is for the federal government to reopen now, so that families may receive the full resources they need. The Governor’s Faith Based & Community Initiative is coordinating rapid response across all 95 counties,” wrote Lee.

This comes after Lee claimed technical limitations prevented the state from using state funding to pay SNAP food benefits during the shutdown. Following this, State Sen. Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) wrote a statement that it was time for Tennessee to show the rest of the country “what it looks like when leaders put people before politics and compassion before bureaucracy.”

About 690,000 Tennesseans rely on SNAP food benefits at a cost of $145 million per month, according to Tennessee Department of Human Services Commissioner Clarence Carter. Across the state, Hancock County has the highest percentage of SNAP households with a median income of $31,995, according to data gathered by the Associated Press.

6 News has compiled a list of charities, businesses and nonprofits that are offering free meals in East Tennessee to help as the shutdown continues. The state also launched a website to connect people with food resources and volunteer opportunities.