Volunteers with Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville are feeding people impacted by SNAP freeze. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Days after thousands of Tennessee families lost monthly federal food benefits, Gov. Bill Lee announced he would direct $5 million in state funding to food banks.

Lee said Tuesday that funding will come from savings accrued in TennCare, the state’s Medicaid program for the poor, disabled and elderly, and be distributed to regions based on the population of individuals who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. SNAP provides monthly cash benefits loaded onto debit cards to buy food at grocery stores.

Second Harvest Food Bank will be the main group distributing the funds, which should begin arriving at other food banks

See Full Page