The longest government shutdown in U.S. history could end Wednesday following a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. For the last 42 days (and counting), millions of federal workers have gone unpaid, low-income Americans have been left without food stamps and thousands of domestic flights were delayed or cancelled.

The federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits not being distributed have sparked confusion and fear among many, including Mikala Bates, an animal science major at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

“The shutdown and the cut are causing my family to only get $100 for food stamps this month. I think food pantries will see an increase in people coming,” Bates said. “Something else is that people will have to dip into money that goes towards bills so they can afford food.”

According to the Tennessee Department of Human Services, the state will begin processing partial SNAP payments Wednesday as well, following the directive from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue 65% of SNAP benefits for the month of November. Should the vote in the House pass, TDHS says they will begin processing remaining benefits as soon as possible.

The package being voted on Wednesday would provide funding for most federal agencies through January 30. If the two parties cannot come to another agreement between now and then, much of the federal government could shut down again; however the bill does fund SNAP through Sept. 30, 2026.

Across the UT Martin campus, there are means in place for students to access food during these unstable times. Food pantries located in Ellington Hall and Cooper Hall – though Ellington’s pantry is behind a counter – provide food from 8 a.m. to midnight. 

Noonday, hosted at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry every Thursday at 12 p.m., provides food for students free of charge. The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences will be providing a free lunch every Wednesday for the rest of the semester in Gooch Hall, room 310. 

According to their websites, McConnell Baptist Church provides food to families and students struggling with food insecurity and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee has a mobile food pantry that serves several areas, including Martin. Phone calls to Bible Union Baptist Church, McConnell Baptist Church, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee were not returned when seeking comment.

UT Martin also provides many other items for students such as shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap and toothpaste on the second floor of Boling University Center. Ellington and Cooper Hall also provides some of these items behind the desk. Upstairs in the Paul Meek Library, students can pick up sexual health and hygiene products; feminine hygiene products are also located in many bathrooms across campus. 

Laur Davis and Gwendolyn Lyle contributed to this report.