Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee's (SHFBNT) mission is to feed the hungry in Northeast Tennessee by securing and distributing food and engaging the community in the fight to end hunger through regional partnerships, programs and education.

An affiliate of the Feeding America Network of Food Banks, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee is the only food bank serving the eight-county region incorporating Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties. In fiscal year 2023, the food bank provided 10.8 million meals (12.9 million pounds of food) to people in need in the eight-county region.

Funded Program

SHFBNT provides hunger relief for over 40,000 individuals monthly through partner agencies and direct service programs. Direct service programs include The Food for Kids Backpack Program®, which provides children in need with a bag full of healthy snacks and easily prepared nutritious meal items to take home after school and on weekends. Through the Rooted in Evidence Food Bank Program, SHFBNT sought to identify better ways to distribute the food, involve all family members and avoid food waste.

SHFBNT will continue implementing the school pantry concept within the schools and School Resource Centers, hoping the word will spread to other schools that may be reluctant or apprehensive about the idea. They will also focus on districts that are available or willing to promote drive-thru pantries to parents. Additionally, their region experienced widespread damage from Hurricane Helene. SHFBNT is eager to support more school feeding opportunities as the region recovers from loss.