Last summer I spent a few days photographing food stamp recipients and visiting a local food bank in the Western Tennessee town of Dyersburg. The number of citizens on public assistance has swelled in recent years due to the recession and sluggish economic rebound. Cuts to the food stamp program have been floated as the nation's lawmakers in Congress struggle to strike a balance between domestic spending and the debt. 

Food stamp recipient Tarnisha Adams sits with her granddaughter Callee in Dyersburg, Tenn. on Thursday, August 15, 2013. Adams, who is trying to feed and pay her three boys’ way through community college, lost her job as a rump skinner in a hog rendering plant after finding out she was seriously ill with heart, lung, and kidney problems. That evening she prepared a large pasta dish for dinner in hopes that it would feed her family for the next 3 days. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times

One-year-old Drake Rigsby sits in his high-chair in his parents' apartment in Dyersburg, Tenn. on Thursday, August 15, 2013. The Rigsbys rely on food stamps to make ends meet and often skip meals to keep Drake properly fed. Chicken and rice soup is seen cooking on their kitchen stove. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times

(L-R) Food stamp recipients Christina Rigsby, One-year-old Drake Rigsby, and Dustin Rigsby are seen in the living room of their two bedroom apartment in Dyersburg, Tenn. on Thursday, August 15, 2013. Dustin and Christina came to rely on food stamps after Dustin lost his job at a chicken processing factory and was injured while repairing an all terrain vehicle. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

Food stamp recipient Dustin Rigsby displays the content of his freezer in his apartment kitchen in Dyersburg, Tenn. on Thursday, August 15, 2013. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

Needy residents of Dyer County, Tenn., many of whom are one food stamps, line up in anticipation of the monthly Feed the Need food distribution at the Dyer County fairgrounds in Dyersburg, Tenn. on Friday, August 16, 2013. Food donations for needy individuals and families arrived on a semi truck from the Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis, Tenn. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

Food bank recipient James Yarbro and one of his rescue dogs, Tippy, wait in line to pick up donated food boxes during the monthly Feed the Need food distribution at the Dyer County fairgrounds in Dyersburg, Tenn. on Friday, August 16, 2013. Approximately 30,000 pounds of food from the Mid-South Food Bank was distributed to around 800 families over the course of the morning. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

An empty food box provided by Feed The Need organizers sits at the feet of food bank recipients at the Dyer County fairgrounds in Dyersburg, Tenn. on Friday, August 16, 2013. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

A pallet of donated frozen meat products from Kroger Grocery Stores sits in a refrigerated semi truck before being unloaded at the monthly Feed the Need food distribution at the Dyer County fairgrounds in Dyersburg, Tenn. on Friday, August 16, 2013. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

Feed the Need director Mark Oakes, center, is comforted by friends during an opening prayer at the first Feed the Need food distribution since Oakes' mother had passed away. Oakes is involved with the Salvation Army and Rotary Club in Dyserburg. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

Feed The Need volunteer Tommy Maier, 19, of Dyersburg, Tenn. carries a box for a food bank recipient during the monthly Feed the Need food distribution at the Dyer County fairgrounds in Dyersburg, Tenn. on Friday, August 16, 2013. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

Food stamp recipient and former welder Kathy Baucom, 61, of Newbern, Tenn. lifts a box of donated food into the bed of her pickup truck during the monthly Feed the Need food distribution at the Dyer County fairgrounds in Dyersburg, Tenn. on Friday, August 16, 2013. Baucom arrived at the fairgrounds at 5:45am to wait in line for the 8am food distribution. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

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**Photos copyright Luke Sharrett and The New York Times**