The Aaron McNeil House has been very busy as residents who rely on federal food assistance prepare for an end to their benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Editor’s note: If your business or organization is helping during the disruption of SNAP benefits, email us at editor@hoptownchronicle.org, and we’ll share you information with our readers.
“That’s all anybody is talking about,” said Aaron McNeil’s executive director, Kurt Anderson.
The crisis relief agency has been about 30% busier with requests for food and other help, said Anderson. At the same time, 15 to 20 individuals have reached out to ask how they can help. Anderson tells them he’ll take any help his organization can get.
“Frankly, although we have done the best we can to prepare, we really do not have any idea what to expect,” he said.
Over the past month, the nation’s food assistance program has been thrown into turmoil. When the government shut down on Oct. 1, SNAP benefits continued temporarily, but by late October, the Trump administration reversed earlier guidance and refused to use a $5 billion reserve to fund the program. Two lawsuits challenged that decision, leading a federal judge in Rhode Island to order the government to release emergency funds for food aid. After initially agreeing to send only partial payments, Trump threatened to defy the court, prompting a second order that benefits be paid in full. As some states began to issue payments, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked the lower court ruling. By Saturday, confusion spread as the administration told states to “undo” SNAP payments already made, leaving millions uncertain when — or if — they would receive assistance.
Locally, 12.8% of Christian County’s 25,676 households receive SNAP benefits, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimate. In Trigg County, it’s 10.7% of households, and in Todd County, 12.5%.
Anderson said a high percentage of the people who receive help from Aaron McNeil have a steady source of income, but they don’t make enough money to cover all of their basic living expenses.
Aaron McNeil provides groceries in two ways — daily from the pantry at its Second Street offices and once a month at its food distribution program at the Western Kentucky State Fairgrounds on Richard Street.
The next monthly distribution is Saturday, Nov. 8. The food comes through Feeding America with financial backing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP. The USDA covers the cost of the food, and Aaron McNeil pays for the transport on a tractor-trailer. However, USDA’s funding for the program has been reduced and recent shipments have not included meat.
Anderson said approximately 750 to 800 families come to the fairgrounds for the monthly distribution, but he’s considering increasing his order to provide enough for 1,000 to 1,100 families.
Aaron McNeil can received donated canned goods or frozen meat at 604 E. Second St. for its in-house pantry. The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. It closes for one hour at lunch each day, from noon to 1 p.m., and stays open later on Wednesdays, until 6 p.m. It closes an hour early, at 3 p.m., on Thursdays. Monetary donations can be mailed to Aaron McNeil House, P.O. Box 137, Hopkinsville, KY 42241.
Aaron McNeil is one of several organizations and businesses that are gearing to address the local need for food.
Restoration House plans food distribution to help local families
Restoration House, a church in the former Belmont Elementary School building at 101 McLean Ave., will have a food distribution beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov 11.
The church organized the effort for residents needing food assistance, including those whose SNAP benefits have been disrupted during the federal government shutdown.
“Our goal is to help meet a growing need in our community as many families face challenges accessing essential resources,” Richard Dixon, lead pastor of Restoration House, said in an email.
Baked Hopkinsville will offer free sandwiches for children
From noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at Baked Hopkinsville, children 13 and younger can get a free ham and cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwich with water or juice. The bakery is at 110 E. Sixth St.
Heather Dawson, co-owner of Baked and The Mixer restaurant with her husband, Graham Dawson, announced the offer in a Facebook video.
“I am seeing our community come together, so we want to do at least what we can do,” Heather Dawson said.
Hopkinsville Brewing offering free kids meals and bagged groceries
Hopkinsville Brewing Co. said in a Facebook post that if the SNAP program is halted, it will serve children free cheese pizzas from its food truck.
“While we can’t solve the larger issue, we’d like to do what we can to help: If benefits are suspended, Pints & Pizza will be offering a Kids Meal consisting of a 7-inch cheese pizza and a juice box or bottle of water at no charge to kids 13 and under …,” the brewery announced.
The offer, which will continue until SNAP benefits are restored, started on Sunday, Nov. 2. That day, 24 children were served, the brewery announced on Facebook. The next day, more than 50 children were served pizza, co-owner Kate Russell told Hoptown Chronicle.
In addition, the brewery is giving bags of canned goods and snacks to any family requesting them. The food was assembled with donated groceries and cash from several community members and businesses.
The brewery hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m. Fridays, noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. It is normally closed on Mondays but the owners said it would open in the afternoon if there is a need on Mondays.
Restaurants offering free menu items for children
As of Monday, Nov. 3, Davo’s restaurant began giving free to-go meals to children 13 and under. Each child may receive a grilled cheese or ham and cheese sandwich with fries and a water once a day, the restaurant announced in a Facebook post.
“Please pull up to our Pick Up window and ask for one of the SNAP meals as this will be for to-go only due to our limited dining room space,” the post sates.
Children must be present to receive the meal. Davo’s is located at 3115 Canton St. in the Indian Hills Shopping Center.
Prosperity Falls Screaming Pizza, 3192 Prosperity Lane, is offering free personal pan pizzas and milk to children 12 and younger. The offer began on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and continues until SNAP benefits are restored, the restaurant announced in a Facebook post. Families should use the walk-up window and need to show an EBT card.
The Boys and Girls Club organizes food drive
The Boys and Girls Club of Hopkinsville-Christian County has reached out to local churches and community groups to ask for help with a food drive for families affected by the government shutdown.
Donors can help by dropping off non-perishable foods at the Boys and Girls Club, 1600 Walnut St. The most needed items are canned vegetables and meat, rice, pasta, cereal, soup, peanut butter and individually wrapped snacks.
Cash donations can be made online to the Boys and Girls Club.
Salvation Army launches emergency assistance campaign
The Salvation Army, the oldest service organization of its kind in Christian County, announced this week it is launching an emergency food campaign it calls “Feed Hope. Share Love.”
The campaign is in response to a “dramatic rise in food-assistance requests — some three to five times higher than usual in recent weeks,” the organization said in a press release from local corps officer, Lt. David Donegan.
“With grocery and utility prices continuing to strain family budgets, we’re seeing many of our neighbors turning to us for the first time. Our faith calls us to feed the hungry and serve those in need, and we’re confident our community will come together once again to make that possible,” Donegan said in the release.
The Salvation Army provides hot meals at its soup kitchen and groceries in its food pantry.
Supporters can drop off non-perishable foods from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at The Salvation Army on Seventh Street.
Donors can mail a check to The Salvation Army of Hopkinsville, P.O. Box 427, Hopkinsville, KY 42241. Cash donations can also be made online.
This story has been updated.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
