CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Even though the federal government shutdown has ended and SNAP benefits have resumed, Clarksville Area Urban Ministries said the effects of the pause in income and aid are lingering, and the need for food, shelter and financial assistance is far higher than usual.

Before the shutdown, Urban Ministries typically saw about 250 people a month needing food assistance. But once SNAP benefits lapsed and federal workers were furloughed, that number more than doubled to about 688, according to Grace Assistance Program Manager Deborah Ashcraft.

“We saw a lot of people who have never sought assistance before,” Ashcraft told Clarksville Now. “We were seeing military families that were furloughed, and just seeing a lot of uncertainty.”

Clarksville Area Urban Ministries Executive Director Jodi McBryant said new faces continue to arrive at the door. “We did see quite an increase in new clients,” McBryant said. “We’re seeing about 20 to 30 new clients a week.” Even though the shutdown is over, the demand hasn’t slowed.

Government shutdown ended, but need hasn’t

Ashcraft said they are still serving 50 to 60 families every Tuesday and Thursday during their food distribution days. Many families who first came because of the shutdown or delayed SNAP benefits still need help.

“I think the uncertainty about what’s going to happen with the SNAP benefits is probably going to continue to bring them in,” McBryant added.

Additionally, Ashcraft said recent changes to SNAP eligibility could impact more households. “They’ve changed their guidelines on who can receive benefits now,” she said. “So it may affect more people long term.”

Rising demand for financial help

Urban Ministries’ financial assistance program continues to be in demand. Their utility assistance fund is maxed out at $2,500 every month. McBryant says requests for utility and rent assistance have significantly increased. “Right now we don’t have the funds for the rental assistance,” she said. “So that’s an unmet need in the community.”

Many of their clients are people with families living paycheck to paycheck, who earn too much to qualify for benefits but not enough to cover rising bills.

What Urban Ministries needs most

Urban Ministries is asking for food donations that serve both housed families and those without stable housing. They need peanut butter, crackers, pull-top canned proteins, and easy-to-carry foods that don’t require cooking. These items are essential for the daily snack bags they hand out, which also include socks, fruits, proteins, juice, hand warmers in the winter, and more.

“We go through about 250 of those a week,” Ashcraft said.

For clothing donations, they are requesting hats, gloves and coats. These donations are critical as temperatures drop and Urban Ministries prepares to reopen its emergency warming shelter.

Urban Ministries’ emergency warming shelter

McBryant said the warming shelter will “probably open up after Thanksgiving,” depending on the weather. The shelter activates when temperatures reach 35 degrees or below for three consecutive days.

This year, Urban Ministries is coordinating more closely with other agencies to help meet demand when the shelter opens:

McBryant said other groups can sign up to provide meals or volunteer through the same portal here.

The City of Clarksville is also helping transport people between shelters and daytime warming centers like Loaves and Fishes. “It really is a big community effort,” McBryant said.

Christmas help with Mobile Toy Store

Urban Ministries is preparing for a Mobile Toy Store during the week of Christmas, partnering with different toy stores to bring gifts directly to unhoused children and families staying in hotels. “We want everyone to experience the holidays one way or another,” Ashcraft said.

Urban Ministries volunteers continue to bring out carts full of groceries – including frozen vegetables, fruits, pastries, and more – to families in need. “We had a couple in here yesterday,” McBryant said. “When we rolled out the cart and they saw it … they were so grateful.”

Ashcraft credited Second Harvest as their biggest supplier. “They’re such a blessing to us,” she said.

“It’s the little things that we take for granted that people need,” McBryant added.

Those interested in volunteering or donating can find more information on the Urban Ministries website. Their office is downtown at 217 S. Third St., and they can also be reached at 931-648-9090, option 1. White-flag shelter volunteers are especially needed once temperatures drop, and Urban Ministries will announce activation on its social media and the city’s website.

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