On Friday, the money stops, and over the following 19 days, Anderson County's more than 9,000 SNAP recipients will miss the November deposit they rely on for groceries. There is no backstop, no help from the state - just an empty card and cart.

When my friend Brandy VanderVeen called me Monday asking how we could help, I told her we needed something simple, immediate and dignified. Together we came up with Operation SNAP Gap to build a bridge until decency wins over politics.

We're giving out $30 Food City gift cards in front of the Oliver Springs Food City on Sunday, Nov. 2 starting at 2 p.m. and lasting until we don't have a dollar left to give. There is no sign-up, no test - just show your EBT card and get $30 to help make it to next week. I pray it doesn't take that long.

If we did this by ourselves, it would be a very short afternoon.