Knoxville Mayor Proposes $100,000 โฃfor Localโข Food Pantries as SNAPโ Benefits Remain Suspended
Knoxville, TN – November 10, 2025 -โ Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon isโ proposing a $100,000 donation to theโฃ United Wayโ of Greater Knoxville to support local food pantries as approximately 35,000 Knox County residents continue to experienceโค a lapse in SNAP (supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) โbenefits. the proposal, announced today, aims to address the urgent need for food โฃassistance following a series of courtโข rulings that have halted SNAP โfunding in tennessee since November 1.
According to an ordinance proposed byโ Kincannon, theโข city โfunds will be distributed by the United Way to organizations “that are best suited to appropriately address this urgent need.”
The move comes โafter โGovernor โbill Lee announced on November 4 a statewide commitment of $5 million to five food โbanks, with Second Harvestโค Food Bank of East Tennessee receiving $850,000. Second Harvest, which serves 18โ counties including Knox County, anticipates receiving the state funds within the next week, according to Chief Marketing Officer Michael Torano. โThe state allocated emergency support basedโข on regional populations of SNAP recipients.
The majority ofโ SNAP โbeneficiaries inโฃ Knox County are extremely low-income families with children, โseniors,โ adn individuals with disabilities, many of whom have already turned to local food pantries for assistance.
While โขthe U.S. Senate has taken initial steps toward a resolution to a recent government shutdown that contributed to the SNAP funding issues, the agreement still requires a vote in the house of Representativesโ and President Donald Trump’s signature to become law.
