Serving the Region
Second Harvest has led the effort to end hunger in Northeast Tennessee for 25 years, and is the only food bank serving the eight-county region incorporating Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties. Second Harvest has been designated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator for financial health, accountability and transparency, a designation achieved by only 24% of all charities.
Identifying the Need
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Approximately 1 out of every 4 individuals in our region lives in poverty
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Nearly 1 in 5 individuals suffers from food insecurity
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As many as 2 out of every 5 children suffer from food insecurity.
Meeting the Challenge
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Over 8 million pounds of food were distributed in Fiscal Year 2011, a 13% increase
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Over 3 million pounds of local food product were donated through our Food Rescue Program, with meat, dairy and produce comprising nearly 60% of all donated product
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Over 36,000 people per month received food (3,000 more per month than in
Fiscal Year 2010)
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Raised $1.66 million in contributions and grants, a 34% increase over 2010 · Provided disaster-relief assistance and long-term recovery aid as a member of VOAD.
Strengthening Our Reach
· Over 4,000 chronically hungry children in 134 schools in all 15 school districts were served by our Food for Kids Backpack Program, a 12% increase over the previous year· 658 children were served by our Summer Food Service Program at 10 sites, a 14% increase over the previous summer· Over 750 children received meals and snacks through our Kids Café Program· Over 300,000 pounds of food were distributed through our Mobile Food Pantry at 25 sites throughout the region, a 25% increase in sites· Awarded a new Mobile Food Pantry truck as a result of a $150,000 Idol Gives Back Foundation grant· Over 5,100 families received a box of food through Project Thanksgiving in partnership with WCQR, 43% more families than in 2010· Over 11,000 hours of service were provided by Food Bank volunteers (a 150% increase over the past 4 years), greatly extending the services and resources of the Food Bank staff · The Food Bank advocated for federal nutrition programs and anti-hunger policy initiatives throughout the year. Food Bank advocacy events included the Hunger Forum, attended by the Lieutenant Governor, and the Tennessee Food Banks Forum, attended by the state Commissioner of Agriculture.
BRIEF HISTORY
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee was established as the “Tri-Cities Food Bank” in 1986. The first truck was donated and food was stored at Bell Ridge School, Kingsport and agencies started receiving food. 86,000 pounds of food were distributed. The Food Bank moved to a location in Elizabethton, Tennessee in 1990 and the name was changed to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee. Food Bank Certification was obtained from America’s Second Harvest (now Feeding America) in 1994. During 1997, a capital campaign enabled the Food Bank to build a new warehouse in Gray, Tennessee where the Food Bank is currently located.
The Food Bank has grown steadily every year to meet the increased need for food assistance in Northeast Tennessee. Warehouse capacity has expanded to its current level of food storage and over seven million pounds of food are now being distributed each year. In addition programs have been added to address unmet need in the eight county region.