SMYRNA, Tenn (WZTV) — Elder’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Smyrna is among 20 churches across Tennessee receiving a $5,000 Food Security Grant from ENCORE Ministry Foundation. The funding is part of a $100,000 initiative aimed at helping churches expand food programs for seniors impacted by rising costs and cuts to SNAP benefits.
For Pastor James Morton, the need in his community is clear—and growing.
“We didn’t realize how important this food ministry was,” Morton said. “A lot of people are going without food just trying to make ends meet.”
The church, located at 210 Front Street, hosts a food drive every third Saturday of the month. While distribution officially begins at 8:30 a.m., preparations start an hour earlier—and so do the lines.
“By 8:10 or 8:15, the parking lot is already full,” Morton said. “People are lined up behind the church waiting to pick up food.”
