Hunger No More Nashville

The Need

The elite research team of Metro Social Services (MSS) identified significant food insecurity impacting residents of the Metropolitan Nashville area. Those findings are identified in the Strategic Planning & Research team's report “Hunger in Nashville”.

Additional Reporting – “The High Cost of Low Wages in Nashville”

The Solution: “Hunger No More Nashville”

Metro Social Services response to addressing, reducing, and preventing food insecurity in Davidson County by delivering direct, swift, and effective solutions in a comprehensive and inclusive manner using a multi-prong approach.

• Relying on sound data, tracking the issue
• Customized and thoughtful community approach
• Relying on key community partnerships
• Work with stakeholders to develop ongoing solutions, leading to the reduction and prevention of Nashville food insecurity

Initiatives

Food Pop Up Food Giveaways

A food distribution initiative hosted in conjunction with key community partners who are known, invested, deeply connected to and trusted by the communities where they reside. This program places an emphasis on blanketing known food deserts and poverty-stricken areas, providing them with immediate access to food. This is a compassionate “hand to table” endeavor.

Offered in conjunction with the food boxes, are informational pieces on Metro Social Services’ (MSS) additional service offerings which help satisfy other needs residents have resulting from financial hardship. By rounding out this initiative with the coupling of service connection, it not only makes this effort responsive, but complete.

Pet Parents

A limited, weekly food distribution initiative done in partnership with the Southern Alliance for People & Animal Welfare (SAFPAW). This effort provided meals to the parents of animals who are experiencing literal homelessness or living at or below the poverty level. SAFPAW has a long-standing practice of providing free pet food to pet owners who could not afford provisions for their animals. Metro Social Services helped round out this support by feeding the pet parents.

Metro Meals

Developed during the November 2025 government shutdown that resulted in the temporary disruption of SNAP benefits and caused significant negative financial impacts for Davidson County families. This ongoing initiative offers a discreet and private process in which free food boxes are distributed to Metro Government employees. Metro Social Services is ensuring that those who are helping Nashville residents navigate their challenges also receive help that they need.

Scope of Need

Data and analysis collected by MSS’ elite team of researchers

• 1-in-10 Nashvillians is food insecure
• Since Covid, food costs have increased by 25% but wages have not
• Nearly 1-in-5 Nashville children do not have enough to eat
• Black people are twice as likely to experience food insecurity than overall U.S. population
• Over 30% of single moms face food insecurity
• 1-in-4 veterans of the Iraq & Afghanistan wars is food insecure
• Millions of college students are forced to choose between eating and paying for tuition (Source: Community Needs Evaluation Report “The High Cost of Low Wages in Nashville”)