KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – Knoxville’s Beardsley Farm and the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC) teamed up Saturday morning to help families facing food insecurity amid ongoing federal SNAP benefits delays.
The drive-through food distribution took place from 10 a.m. to noon at the L.T. Ross building on Western Avenue. Cars lined up as volunteers loaded boxes of canned goods, fresh produce, and pantry staples into trunks.
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Organizers say the event was added to help bridge the gap for families waiting on federal SNAP benefits that have been delayed by the government shutdown.
“As the shutdown lingers and SNAP benefits didn’t come onto the cards in November, we decided to add this distribution,” said Judith Pelot, CAC’s Director of Nutrition Services. “We typically distribute a good amount of commodities in Knox County each month, but this is probably two to three times more than would show up at a public distribution,” which is around 350 boxes…