Many Resources
Available
As a resident of Tennessee and Chester County, you have a variety of resources that can help you in your time of need. There are three categories of local resources available to you and those categories are listed below.
Financial Resources
If you need financial help or information, there are several resources that are available to you.
Educational Resources
Educational resources for children and adults will help you understand how to access the educational help you need.
Community Services
Find resources that will help you with your small business or with family matters such as health & well-being.
Financial Resources
Southwest Human Resources Agency
Offers resources such as the local Head Start program, housing/utility assistance, meal assistance, transportation, workforce development and training, summer food services, financial management services and so much more!
SNAP Benefits
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) provides nutritional assistance benefits to children and families, the elderly, the disabled, unemployed and working families. SNAP helps supplement monthly food budgets of families with low-income to buy the food they need to maintain good health and allow them to direct more of their available income toward essential living expenses. DHS staff determines the eligibility of applicants based on guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Source: SNAP Website
Additional Benefits of SNAP Program
SNAP Benefits aren’t restricted to just nutritional assistance. There are other benefits available to you if you qualify for participation in the program.
Educational Resources
Homeschooling Resources
If you choose to homeschool your child(ren) there are groups in the area that share tips, ideas, curriculum, and encouragement to one another. You might even find out about some meetups for your children so they can get to know other homeschoolers as well. We also have foreign language resources to help you meet language requirements.
Chester County School Calendar
Stay up-to-date on the calendar of events for Chester County Schools!
Chester County UT Extension Office
The Chester County UT Extension Office offers great resources both educational and regarding events for topics such as agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and 4-H youth programs.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Your child could receive FREE books!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income.
After launching in 1995, the program grew quickly. First books were only distributed to children living in Sevier County, Tennessee where Dolly grew up. It became such a success that in 2000 a national replication effort was underway.
By 2003, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library had mailed one million books. It would prove to be the first of many millions of books sent to children around the world.
Source: Imagination Library website
Skills & Training for a Better Future
Increase your skills so you can get a new job. Programs are available in our area to help you gain skills and knowledge that can get you ready for work.
Use Our Children's Learning Tablet
Help your child with educational materials while they have fun! You can check out and use our children’s learning tablet with many different educational programs within the library.
Find Info About Tough Topics
As librarians, we’re here to help, not judge. But we understand that some topics are sensitive and it can be hard to ask for help when looking for specific items. Here is a list of tough topics that we have materials about so you can find them in our library without asking for help.
Chester County Head Start 2022-2023
Head Start is a free pre-school program for children of families that qualify based on low income or federal poverty guidelines, childhood disabilities, and various family circumstances.
Free Literacy Kits for Kids
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) is partnering with Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) to provide at-home reading resources for free to all Tennessee families of K–2 children. Through this partnership, TDOE and GELF want to encourage at-home reading practice to help young learners
become stronger readers outside of the classroom, especially during the winter months and holidays while families are at home.
Based on a child’s grade level, they will receive
- 7 At-Home Decodable Book Series, which contain 20+ exciting stories full of sounds and words to practice
- Age-appropriate high-quality books from Scholastic.
Community Services
Chester County Chamber of Commerce
Curious to know more about Chester County, look up the small businesses located in Chester County, get information about the local Farmer’s Market, and Chester County events? This is the best place to find all of the information you are looking for.
Local Government Websites
Find information about resources that are available, political representatives, employment opportunities and more on the Chester County and City of Henderson websites.
Food Banks in Henderson
We have two food banks here in Henderson, TN. Information about each is below.
Henderson Community Soup Kitchen
504 E Main St
Henderson, TN 38340
731-608-4035
Open: Wed 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm; Sat 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Meal Served: Lunch/Dinner
Site Type: Soup Kitchen/Mobile Pantry
The Gleaners House
121 N Washington St
Henderson, TN 38340
731-983-0377
Open: Thurs/Fri 10 am – 5 pm
Site Type: Food Box
Eagles’ Edge
275 Jacks Creek St
Henderson, TN 38340
731-989-5148
Open: Varies
Site Type: Porch Pantry
Online Mental Health Resources
If you ever feel like you need support with your mental well-being, there are many resources available that you can turn to. Download a helpful PDF resource by clicking the button below.
Become a Foster Parent
If you have room in your heart and your home for a child who needs a foster parent, there are resources available to you so you can find out more. Click the button below to download a flyer.
Tennessee Disability Pathfinder
Pathfinder helps people with disabilities, family members, caregivers, educators, and other professionals find and access community resources, support, and services to meet their needs. Users can get help through a toll-free helpline, online directory, and regularly scheduled community workshops across Tennessee. Pathfinder’s diverse staff can help people of all ages, types of disabilities, and languages spoken.
- Stage of Life: Choose from Prenatal/Infancy, Early Childhood, School Age, Transition/Young Adult, Adulthood, or Aging
- Topic of Interest: Twenty service categories to select, with a text box to type keywords
- Diagnosis: Type of disability or health condition
- Benefit/Payment Options: Forms of payment accepted by the agency provider, such as health insurance, government program, private pay, or no cost
- Service Area: Select counties where services are provided
Library for Accessible Books and Media
The Library for Accessible Books and Media serves anyone with a physical reading disability or learning disability. Can’t hold a book? Need large print? LABM can help!
