DONATING FOOD

The need for donated food is ongoing and Second Harvest of Northeast Tennessee encourages donations of food at any time of the year.

How to Hold a FOOD DRIVE...

A food drive is a concentrated effort held over a certain period of time - usually a few weeks or a month - to collect large quantities of non-perishable food items. Second Harvest works closely with civic groups, businesses, schools and others to coordinate Food Drives.

Tips for a Successful Food Drive:

Note: Also refer to for information on donating prepared and perishable foods.

Individual donations are also appreciated!

Largest Yearly Food Drives that benefit Second Harvest of Northeast Tennessee:

Jr. League Food Drive...

The Tri-Cities Jr. Leagues join together each year in March to hold a food drive in Sullivan and Washington Counties. Over 17,000 pounds collected in 2006.

Letter Carriers Food Drive...

Held during May by local chapters of the National Association of Letter Carriers. Residents are encouraged to leave bags of non-perishable food items in their mail boxes. The bags are collected by the Letter Carriers and picked up by Second Harvest at area post offices. Approximately 60,000 pound are collected each year.

Scouting For Food...

Boy Scouts in the area hold this food drive each year in November. Bags are provided by local grocers. Scouts distribute the empty bags in their assigned neighborhoods and collect them the following week. The collected food is brought to the Food Bank or taken directly to the agencies we serve. Over 33,000 pounds of food collected in 2005.

National Hunger Month and Holiday Food Drives...

Each year businesses, churches, civic groups and schools in Northeast Tennessee join efforts to fight hunger by holding food drives on our behalf. During the year 2005 a total of 150,483 pounds of food were collected during Hunger Month and the Holiday Food Drives.