Blake Farmer

This year, he had been paying no monthly premium for his Affordable Care Act insurance thanks to the expiring subsidies.

A new plan would cost him $70 a month, but he says he just can't afford that.

Up to 4 million Americans are estimated to do the same for 2026.

For NPR News, I'm Blake Farmer in Nashville.

A nonprofit called One Gin Away that serves Tennessee and Alabama has been adding more opportunities to get food as it becomes available, and right now the demand far outstrips the supply.

Peggy Martin's raising three grandkids and says she's using the free groceries to fill the gap left by $500 in federal food benefits she normally

receives.

Martin says she's worried for those who aren't as self-sufficient.

More than 40 million Americans rely on the food assistance program.

For NPR News, I'm Blake Farmer in Hickman County, Tennessee.

Cars and trucks started lining up hours before the start time, some before dawn.

Crystal Tipton is among the more than 41 million Americans who rely on the benefits.

She says she's never used a food pantry before.

You have to cut back on everything.

I mean, I think it's the way it's going to be for a while.

The nonprofit that organized this food distribution, called One Gin Away, has seen demand spike by more than 300 percent.

It's been adding pop-up sites in the region over the last two weeks, but organizers say they're running out of food and turning people away.

For NPR News, I'm Blake Farmer in Hickman County, Tennessee.

A nonprofit called One Gin Away that serves Tennessee and Alabama has been adding more opportunities to get food as it becomes available, and right now the demand far outstrips the supply.

Peggy Martin's raising three grandkids and says she's using the free groceries to fill the gap left by $500 in federal food benefits she normally receives.