Blake Farmer

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.

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.