Note: We acknowledge that there may be changes in policy during this time. However, our partners in feeding ministry are always in need of support and we encourage you to support their work and continue calling for assistance for our neighbors in need.
SNAP benefits are scheduled to pause beginning November 1. In Tennessee alone, over 690,000 Tennesseans could face hardship in supporting themselves with basic nutrition. We’re calling on East Tennesseans to show their Volunteer spirit and help their neighbors through this difficult time. 100% of your donation will go to area food banks and feeding initiatives through community partners.
Below is a guide. It is available here as a PDF. (En Español) Below these are transcripts and translations.
How to Help Feed Our Neighbors
This week, Governor Bill Lee warned constituents to prepare for SNAP benefits to halt due to the government shutdown. With 10% of all Tennesseans (690,000 persons) relying on this important safety net program, we can expect that needs in and around our parishes will increase in the coming weeks. Here’s a guide on how you can help!
Parish Template
If you or someone you love needs food support over the weeks ahead, please reach out to your parish office [INSERT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PARISH HERE] or call 2-1-1 to be connected with local resources.
1. Give financially to support feeding programs.
One of the most straightforward ways to help is to financially support existing feeding programs. In our county, distributors include: [ADD YOUR LOCAL AGENCIES AND RESOURCES HERE.]
2. Donate food to existing programs and blessing boxes.
When you do your regular grocery shopping for the next few weeks, add a few extra items to your cart. Cereal and powdered milk, canned meat, peanut butter, rice and beans are all great choices. Baby formula and baby food pouches are also greatly needed in our communities. Call your local food pantry to find out the best way to drop off donations or add items to a blessing box/little free pantry. There are blessing boxes at [INSERT YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY BLESSING BOX LOCATIONS HERE.]
3. Volunteer time with feeding programs.
With an expected increase in patrons over the coming weeks, existing food programs will need extra volunteer support, from distribution to inventory, cleaning, and more. You can reach out to [INSERT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AGENCY VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS HERE.]
4. Contact your state and federal elected officials.
As a constituent, you have the right and responsibility to make your views known to your elected officials, and there are different immediate strategies for different levels of government. Find your elected officials’ contact information here:
Federal Representatives: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
State Representatives: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/Apps/fml2022/search.aspx
Governor Bill Lee: (615) 741-2001
You can use these example scripts if helpful:
For your federal representatives:
Hello, I’m one of Senator/Congressperson’s constituents. I live at ___________, and I am calling to urge him/her to work across the aisle to end the government shutdown and pass a budget that fully funds our most important safety net programs. I’m calling as a member of the Episcopal Church, because of my commitment to love God and love my neighbors. Tennesseeans are suffering, and we need healthcare protections and the continuation of ACA tax credits. We need SNAP and WIC restored immediately and a broader policy approach that cares for the most vulnerable members of our communities.
For your state representatives:
Hello, I’m one of Senator/Congressperson’s constituents. I live at ___________. I’m calling as a member of the Episcopal Church, because of my commitment to love God and love my neighbors, and I want to urge him/her to use whatever influence and encouragement he/she can to work with Governor Lee and utilize state emergency funds to feed Tennesseans. While SNAP is suspended due to the federal government shutdown, our neighbors are hungry, and I ask you to do everything you can to help.
For the governor:
Hello, I’m one of Governor Lee’s constituents. I live at ___________. I’m calling as a member of the Episcopal Church, because of my commitment to love God and love my neighbors. I want to urge the governor to utilize state emergency funds to feed Tennesseans. While SNAP is suspended due to the federal government shutdown, our neighbors are hungry, and I am asking him to do everything he can to help. We have rainy day funds, and today is the day to use them so that Tennessee can survive and thrive.
5. Pay attention and be creative in generosity.
- Keep an eye out for neighbors as you go about your days. Opportunities to help are abundant. Notice if someone in the grocery store line has only a few essentials and looks stressed. Maybe you can cover their order or commiserate with a kind word.
- Welcoming trick-or-treaters this weekend? Add in some healthy snacks like fruit cups, pouches, bars or jerky sticks.
- Skip the splurge or try a modified fast. Give the money from that night out, special coffee drink, or new game to a food pantry this month.
- Inventory your pantry and meal plan for the next week. Eat more simply and use what you already have, then donate your usual weekly grocery budget to a community food pantry.
Transcript of Video
Hi, I’m Bishop Brian.
All who hunger, gather gladly;
Holy manna is our bread.
All who hunger, never strangers,
Seeker, be a welcome guest.
—Sylvia G. Dunstan
In the life of the church, we speak about hunger and we speak about being fed. We welcome people to table, to alter, stranger and kin, to be fed from God’s abundance and God’s love. So we take seriously the idea of being hungry and being fed here in East Tennessee in this diocese.
Currently, we’re on the verge of possibly having over 690,000 Tennesseans lose SNAP Benefits as of November 1st. We want to help in that gap. So we have put together a SNAP Gap Appeal. At the end of this link, you’ll see a way to give. We’ll be sharing those resources with Chattanooga Area Food Bank, with Second Harvest of East Tennessee and other smaller charities across East Tennessee as they seek to meet this need.
We’re also, however, going to share with you some resources put together by a group of clergy this week at Clergy conference. Other ways to respond, including how to be in touch with federal and state representatives and Governor Lee’s office to say, there are emergency funds that could be released to help meet this gap, encouraging them, urging them to do so.
There is a volunteer spirit deep in the history of this state. This is a time to show up for each other, particularly the folks on the margin who are already afraid and already hungry. So, please encourage giving. Please encourage responding and advocacy and continue to look out for your neighbors in this time. We’re in this together.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Traducción en Español
Hola, soy el Obispo Brian.
Todos los que tienen hambre, reúnanse con alegría;
El maná sagrado es nuestro pan.
Todos los que tienen hambre, nunca son extraños,
Buscador, sé un invitado bienvenido.
—Sylvia G. Dunstan
En la vida de la iglesia, hablamos sobre el hambre y hablamos sobre ser alimentados. Damos la bienvenida a las personas a la mesa, al altar, extraños y familiares, para ser alimentados de la abundancia y el amor de Dios. Así que tomamos en serio la idea de tener hambre y ser alimentados aquí en el este de Tennessee en esta diócesis.
Actualmente, estamos al borde de posiblemente tener más de 690,000 habitantes de Tennessee perdiendo beneficios de SNAP a partir del 1 de noviembre. Queremos ayudar en esa brecha. Así que hemos organizado un Llamado de Brecha de SNAP. Al final de este enlace, verás una forma de donar. Compartiremos esos recursos con el Banco de Alimentos del Área de Chattanooga, con Second Harvest del Este de Tennessee y otras organizaciones benéficas más pequeñas en todo el este de Tennessee mientras buscan satisfacer esta necesidad.
También, sin embargo, vamos a compartir con ustedes algunos recursos reunidos por un grupo de clérigos esta semana en la conferencia del clero. Otras formas de responder, incluyendo cómo ponerse en contacto con los representantes federales y estatales y la oficina del Gobernador Lee para decir, hay fondos de emergencia que podrían ser liberados para ayudar a cubrir esta brecha, animándolos, instándolos a hacerlo.
Hay un espíritu voluntario profundamente arraigado en la historia de este estado. Este es un momento para apoyarnos mutuamente, especialmente a las personas en los márgenes que ya tienen miedo y ya tienen hambre. Así que, por favor, fomenten la generosidad. Por favor, fomenten la respuesta y la defensa y continúen cuidando a sus vecinos en este momento. Estamos juntos en esto.
Gracias. Gracias. Gracias.