Drive-thru food pantry aims to support Mid-South families in need

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A mobile food pantry will be set up Friday morning at Treadwell Middle School to help make sure families in the Mid-South don’t have to miss a meal or go hungry.

It starts at 9:30 a.m. until supplies last. The school is located at 920 North Highland Street in Memphis.

You must bring a driver’s license or a bill to verify your name and county address, in addition to filling out an eligibility form.

Food boxes will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

You’re also asked to stay in your vehicle during this drive-thru food pantry distribution, which is being organized by Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

The need for this food may be greater this summer because the state of Tennessee decided to opt out of the summer EBT program provided by the federal government. That program provided food assistance to schoolchildren during the summer when school meals aren’t available. Children who were part of the free and reduced lunch program or whose family was on SNAP benefitted from this program.

Instead, the state launched a new program that sends a one-time $120 payment to 25,000 low-income students. But Shelby County has been excluded from the program.