East Tennessee PBS and Big Slate Media Launch “The SNAP Gap” Initiative to Connect People with Community Support
East Tennessee PBS and Big Slate Media have joined forces to help connect individuals and families losing access to SNAP benefits with the support and resources they need. The project, called The SNAP Gap, is a fast-moving community collaboration that demonstrates the power of local partnerships and public media’s role in addressing urgent regional needs.
The idea grew from East Tennessee PBS Traffic Manager Drew Ellis, who had been independently curating and sharing local resources to help those affected by the end of emergency SNAP benefits. To amplify her effort, East Tennessee PBS developed an online form where people, businesses, and organizations can share details about their available services. The collected information will be hosted on the East Tennessee PBS website as a public resource for anyone seeking help.
Big Slate Media is producing creative spots for air on East Tennessee PBS, featuring local restaurateurs and chefs who are helping to bring awareness and support to those most affected by the change in benefits.
“Even after the crippling loss of federal funding that reduced our budget by more than $700,000 annually, East Tennessee PBS is still finding meaningful ways to serve our community,” said Vickie Lawson, president and CEO of East Tennessee PBS. “This effort speaks directly to our mission of connecting our community with the information they need to thrive.”
“When we learned how many of our neighbors were about to lose access to vital food assistance, we knew we had to act,” said Barbara Shipley, chief development and marketing officer for East Tennessee PBS. “Our mission has always been to educate, inform, and connect, but the speed at which we could respond was only possible because of others in our community. Big Slate Media, Pizza Hoss, Potchke’s Deli, and so many others immediately joined us to address this concern, and together we were able to react quickly to serve those in need.”
“This initiative is a prime example of what makes East Tennessee such an incredible community; whether it’s a pandemic, hurricane, tornado, or the loss of government support, people care about people here and are willing to lock arms to help those in need,” said Jonathan Halley, founder and executive producer of Big Slate Media. “I’m proud of the opportunity to partner with East Tennessee PBS, local restaurants, and other organizations to use our resources for good.”
For more information or to submit a community resource, visit:
www.EastTennesseePBS.org/snap-gap
