Second Harvest Food Bank: Fighting Hunger Together
Maryville, TN – Food insecurity in the U.S. has reached a troubling peak, affecting over 47 million people, including 14 million children. In East Tennessee, Second Harvest Food Bank is working hard to change this. They serve 18 counties, aiming to ease the hunger crisis for families in need.
Recent data from Feeding America shows that 213,970 people in East Tennessee struggle with food insecurity, including 50,460 children. This is a significant rise of 33% over the past two years, largely due to the soaring cost of living and economic pressures.
Elaine Streno, CEO of Second Harvest, states, “Last year, we distributed 27.3 million pounds of food, including 7.3 million pounds of fresh produce. That’s like providing 22.8 million meals. Yet, we still can’t meet all the nutritional needs in our community. As winter approaches, local support becomes even more vital. No one should have to choose between heating their home and buying food.”
Second Harvest offers various programs to reach those in need. One is Food for Kids, which helps over 15,400 children in 300 schools every week during the school year. They also run Food Rescue, redistributing over 11.5 million pounds of surplus food from local businesses.
Volunteers are the backbone of Second Harvest. Last year, they logged over 32,000 hours sorting and distributing food, allowing the organization to efficiently use donations. Remarkably, 95.3% of all contributions directly fund hunger relief programs.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food insecurity can lead to health problems, impacting kids’ growth and learning. This highlights the importance of initiatives like Second Harvest. Community efforts not only help those in need but also foster a healthier society overall.
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee has been a key player in fighting hunger since 1982. Partnered with Feeding America, they distributed more than 27.3 million pounds of food last year through various programs and partnerships across 18 counties.
For more details, check out Second Harvest’s Annual Report.
