Last week, the City of Memphis announced it would be supporting residents with food assistance money after extended power outages — a program that launched on Aug. 31. But within hours, the funds ran out.
The city announced up to $100,000 available to households for replenishing groceries after periods of no electricity following a severe storm Aug. 22.
As of noon on the first day the relief money was available, there was no more left to allocate. Any future money to distribute seems to be dependent on community donations.
"We have received more requests for assistance than funds available," Carolyn McCormick, chief marketing and development officer at United Way of the Mid-South, wrote in an email to The Commercial Appeal.
United Way is still accepting
contributions to the relief fund through its website, and McCormick said the organization will distribute any additional donations.
The relief was distributed through Memphis Cares, a community fund to help families facing food insecurity, which is a partnership between United Way of the Mid-South, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, the Memphis City Council and Mayor Paul Young's administration.
Annie Goldman covers government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at annie.goldman@commercialappeal.com or 901-930-7431, and followed on X @AnnieSGoldman.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis fund to replace groceries after power outages runs out in hours
