Local Philanthropists Chuck & Jo Ellen McDowell Donate $100,000 to One Gen Away; Launch Additional $100,000 Community Match to Feed Families Impacted by SNAP Freeze and Furloughs
FRANKLIN, Tenn. [Nov. 5, 2025] — OneGenAway today announced a generous $100,000 gift from local businessman and community leader Chuck McDowell and his philanthropist wife, Jo Ellen McDowell, to expand emergency food assistance across Middle Tennessee. The McDowells,who own Wesley Financial Group and Medical House Calls, have also established a $100,000 matching challenge, inviting the community to double the impact of every dollar donated to OneGenAway through (match deadline, e.g., December 31, 2025).
The McDowells’ leadership gift and match will help OneGenAway scale mobile food pantries, pop-up drive-through distributions, and the Doorstep Pantry home-delivery program during a period of extraordinary need driven by the SNAP funding freeze and ongoing furloughs affecting federal and contract workers. OneGen’s distributions are free, open to all, no questions asked and require no paperwork.
“Hunger is urgent—and solvable,” said Chris Whitney, Founder & CEO of One Gen Away. “Chuck and Jo Ellen’s incredible generosity is fuel we can put on the road immediately—more food purchased in bulk, more trucks rolling, more families served. Their matching challenge invites our neighbors to step in and multiply hope.”
“This community shows up for one another,” said Chuck McDowell. “Jo Ellen and I believe that when families are facing empty pantries because of SNAP disruptions or paycheck interruptions, we all have a responsibility to help. We hope this match inspires others to give — knowing every gift will be doubled.”
What the McDowell Gift & Match Will Do
- Accelerate emergency distributions in ZIP codes experiencing SNAP interruptions and furlough-related hardship across Middle Tennessee.
- Increase purchasing power for high-demand items (fresh produce, proteins, shelf-stable staples) through OneGenAway’s bulk buying and food rescue partnerships.
- Extend Doorstep Pantry delivery to homebound seniors, single-parent households, and families with transportation barriers.
- Keep operations nimble—fuel, refrigerated trucking, warehousing, and volunteer mobilization—so food moves where need is spiking in days, not weeks.
How the Community Can Help
Every dollar given to OneGenAway during the McDowell $100,000 Matching Challenge will be doubled up to the match cap—turning $100,000 into $200,000 for food on tables right now.
Donate at onegenaway.com/donate and note “McDowell Match” in the comment line. For corporate or foundation gifts, contact Cynthia Stielow, Chief Advancement Officer, cynthia@onegenaway.com.
“We are incredibly fortunate to live in a wonderful place like Williamson County and sometimes we forget that we have community members who are in need,” said Jo Ellen McDowell. “Chuck and I were drawn here because of the people and this is an opportunity for us to give back and help our neighbors. We hope others will join us.”
About One Generation Away
OneGenAway works to end food insecurity by distributing healthy food with dignity through Mobile Food Pantries, Pop-Up Drive-Throughs, Doorstep Pantry home deliveries, and food-rescue partnerships with farms, grocers, and distributors. Serving Middle Tennessee and North Alabama, OneGenAway removes barriers—no questions asked, no paperwork required—so neighbors can access fresh, quality food quickly and respectfully.
Learn more at [onegenaway.com]. Hope. Honor. Dignity. Shared through food.
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