To better serve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who need immediate access to transportation and food resources, WeGo is expanding enrollment opportunities beginning Wednesday, November 5. These changes include:
- Extended hours and new sign-up locations
- Simplified registration for SNAP participants
Residents who currently receive services from partnering Metro departments can sign up for Journey Pass at one of their department's scheduled program outreach events. With proof of eligibility, SNAP recipients can attend any outreach event listed below to register for a Journey Pass.
Enrollees must provide one of the following as proof of eligibility from the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS):
- An eligibility notice of decision (with certification or eligibility date; renewal date must not be expired)
- A verification/certification letter from DHS (with certification or eligibility date; renewal date must not be expired)
- Access to the One DHS SNAP Benefits portal on your smartphone
In addition, you must present:
- A valid photo ID
If you are applying for a Journey Pass for other members of your household, they must be listed as approved applicants on your DHS documentation.
Metro Nashville, in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, has convened hundreds of community partners to help our neighbors in need who stand to lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) / Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits due to the federal government shutdown. Nearly 60,000 Nashvillians are about to lose their critical food and nutrition benefits.
While Metro Nashville and our human service agencies are allocating resources to help those most in need, Second Harvest is launching a Hunger Can't Wait campaign to allocate food resources directly to individuals and families.
Below is a list of resources for Nashvillians in need, or if you just want to know how you can help, you can find direction for that too.
Second Harvest Resources
If you're in need of food, head to Second Harvest Food Bank's Food Finder.
If you would like to help support our Hunger Can't Wait campaign, you can:
Make Your Remaining SNAP Dollar Stretch Further
The Nashville Farmers' Market Fresh Bucks program will match spending up to $100 for all customers using their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to purchase fresh food. When a shopper spends $100 on fresh food at the market using their nutrition assistance benefits, the market will offer an additional $100 in tokens to improve affordability to fresh, nutritional food.
Shoppers can use their EBT card to shop at the participating booths and then bring their EBT receipt to the info booth 173 in the farm shed to receive Fresh Bucks tokens equal to the amount spent. The reimbursement booth is typically open on Saturdays and Sundays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The Nashville Farmers' Market will be able to match qualified SNAP foods up to $100 to all EBT eligible people if they can show that they are in the program regardless of if they pay for their original purchase with their EBT card or some other source.
The Nashville Farmers' Market will help all SNAP and EBT card users by matching up to $100 of their qualified purchases of food at the Nashville Farmers' Market.
Nashville General Hospital's Food Pharmacy
Nashville General Hospital's unique Food Pharmacy program is based on the idea of "food as medicine" and focuses on using food and healthy eating and lifestyle habits to improve the overall health of our patients.
Patients that agree to participate in the Food Pharmacy program are provided nutritious foods, social work services and nutrition counseling over a six-month period at no cost to them.
Are you eligible to participate in the Food Pharmacy program?
Participants must meet all the below requirements:
- You are a current patient of Nashville General Hospital (NGH) or Nashville Healthcare Center (NHC)
- You meet the screening guidelines for food insecurity, as determined by a staff member
- You are given a Food Pharmacy prescription by a NGH/NHC provider
Get in touch:
- 615-341-4020
- The Food Pharmacy is located on the Lower Level (LL) of Nashville General Hospital at: 1818 Albion Street Nashville, TN 37208
- Hours of Operation:
- Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Friday 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Metro Social Services
Metro Social Services (MSS) has activated a crisis response due to the food deficiency and SNAP disruption.
The Crisis Response Plan includes: increased welfare calls to elderly, disabled, and homebound clients, increased at-home welfare checks of clients, deployed Home Ambassadors who make daily meal deliveries to ask welfare specific questions of clients to identify and assess any acute and present needs related to food and health needs.
"Quick Meals" are available for acute needs. Quick Meals are supplemental meals and snacks that MSS keeps on site for clients who come in hungry or need nutrition.
MSS has a limited supply of Food Assistance Cards which MSS provides to families enrolled in the case management program who need help purchasing food.
Metro Social Services also continues to offer their traditional services which are more acutely needed during times of crisis. Those include:
- Access to food resources where they can get immediate food
- Help applying for SNAP benefits. Continuing to assist with paperwork to have ready once the program resumes.
- Referrals to agencies and organizations that provide free clothing
- Help with housing
- Help getting prepared for a job and actually doing job placement for individuals. (Also assist those with a criminal background, seniors, return retirees, and disabled.)
- Mental Health referrals
- Specialized services for our seniors and disabled: daily welfare calls, at-home welfare checks, daily hot/cold meal delivery, rides to the doctor’s office, picking up medicine, acquiring and installing critical appliances such as a heater for their home.
- Bus passes for clients enrolled in case management
How to connect to Metro Social Services resources
- Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 3055 Lebanon Pike, Donelson, Tennessee. Located next to TruFit.
- Walk-ins are welcome during office hours
- Call to make an appointment: 615-862-6432
- Visit us online to book an appointment
For Metro Schools Families
211 Helpline: Stands ready, but it is imperative for agencies to keep profiles updated to ensure callers receive accurate resources. 211 has experienced a 200% increase in food-related calls.
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) will have food boxes available for distribution at the Celebration of Schools event at Nissan Stadium on November 8.
The following opportunities to receive food are open to all students:
Date | Time | School/Site | Event Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tuesdays | 8–11 a.m. and 1–3 p.m. | Tusculum ES | Food Pantry | Ongoing weekly |
Metro Action Commission
The Metro Action Commission has modified the following programs to best respond to immediate needs:
Utility Payment Assistance
Assistance with utility payments will be limited to applicants who meet the crisis criteria as defined by Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). Applicants who do not meet this definition will be placed on a waiting list until full funding is restored or additional guidance is provided. Additionally, the online application portal will be unavailable until November 3 due to the launch of a new statewide software system.
Emergency Assistance
Support for Emergency Assistance Programs funded by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) grant—including rent, mortgage, property tax, prescription assistance, and other emergency services—may be limited during this period.
For Metro Employees
If you are a Metro employee who qualifies for SNAP benefits, you can pick up food boxes starting Friday, October 31 at the office of Metro Social Services at Donelson Corporate Centre, 3055 Lebanon Pike. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more info, visit the Metro Social Services website or call 615-862-6400.
City-wide Food Drive
Food boxes from Second Harvest where Nashvillians can donate food items are available at the following locations:
- All police precincts including Metro Nashville Police Department Headquarters
- Historic Courthouse
- Metro Office Building
- County Clerk's Office at Howard Office Building
- Metro Water
- All libraries (excluding main library) 20 branches
This page was last updated on November 26, 2025