Student Food Drive Promotes Charity And Student Development

The Food Bank began its 5^th annual Student Food Drive on October 2, 2012 with a Kick-Off Party for participating students.

Students and Advisors from area high schools have signed up to hold food drives and help raise food to feed people in the region with a food drive that runs from October 2 to November 8.  High school students challenge each other to participate in this challenge to receive cash awards based on school population and the amount of pounds of food collected per student.

The Student Food Drive accomplishes two goals – to participate in the immediate effort of collecting food and donating it to the Food Bank; and, to encourage young people to either start or enhance their commitment to volunteer service.  The Food Drive develops student leadership by challenging them to raise food, collect money to purchase food, and then find a way to deliver the food to the Food Bank. Last year over 38,000 pounds of food was collected by high school students in the region.

Supporters of the Food Bank are encouraged to support their local school’s efforts.  All high schools in the eight-county region that still wish to participate are encouraged to contact the Food Bank at (423)477-4053, x. 224 or donatefood@netfoodbank.org to sign up.

 

 

 

Larger Facility Will Help Food Bank in Meeting Long-Term Goals

The Board of Directors of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee announced at 11 AM on Friday, July 13, 2012 the purchase of a larger warehouse facility to accommodate the region’s critical need for food assistance.  The new headquarters is at 1027 Jericho Drive, off of I-81 at Exit 63 and is centrally located for the convenience of the Food Bank’s eight-county service area.

According to Executive Director Rhonda Chafin, the move is a key component of the Food Bank’s strategic plan.  “Simply put, the Food Bank has outgrown its current space.  In addition, the Food Bank has seen a 52 percent increase since 2007 in the number of households requiring emergency and supplemental food assistance, and the new facility will allow us to ensure that all of our partner agencies can effectively provide nutritious food to our most vulnerable individuals and families. “

Other benefits of the new location are that the Food Bank’s 200 partner agencies will have access to a larger inventory of food product, and the warehouse staff will be better equipped to accommodate the partner agencies.  The new facility will allow the organization to save funds by taking advantage of additional donated and purchased food.  Also, the new facility will allow for the formation of new programs and services to assist individuals receiving food assistance on a monthly basis. 

Some renovations will be needed to equip the new location for operations.  A cost-effective building renovation is being planned and includes a combination of in-kind donations and contracted work.  The Food Bank plans to secure financial support for these projects through private donations and other funding sources.  The relocation will take place sometime during Fiscal Year 2013.

 

 

 

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT LETTER CARRIER’S FOOD DRIVE

LOCAL LETTER CARRIER’S FOOD DRIVE A HUGE SUCCESS!!

On Saturday, May 12, The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) held their Annual Food Drive called “Stamp Out Hunger”. Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee sincerely appreciates the outpouring of support received from the Northeast Tennessee community during the 2012 NALC Food Drive.

Over 100,000 pounds of food was collected during the food drive to help feed people in need in our region. The Food Bank thanks everyone who made a donation to the Food Drive.

We also want to thank the following groups who made the food drive a success:

• AARP for supplying bags and helping promote the food drive
• Local letter carriers for delivering cards and bags before the drive and collecting the food during their regular mail deliveries, and 
• The great volunteers who helped collect the food.

 

 

AAA East Tennessee Travel Show January 21 to Benefit Food Bank

AAA East Tennessee Travel Show January 21

to Benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee

Tri-Cities, TN – Make plans to attend the annual AAA East Tennessee Travel Show and help support Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee on Saturday, January 21, 2012. This year’s event is being held atMeadowviewConvention Center inKingsport fromNoon until4:00 p.m. Admission is $5 for AAA members and $6 for non-members or $5 plus a donation of 3 cans of food at the door. Proceeds from the event benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee.

Cruise lines and tour companies will be on hand offering great travel discounts and upgrades. Door prizes will also be given away throughout the afternoon. You can make your travel plans and reservations on site or simply gather information for future travel plans.

The Food Bank’s mission is to feed the hungry by securing and distributing food and grocery products to non-profitagenciesthat provide services to the needy in the eight-county region ofNortheast Tennessee. The Food Bank is experiencing record demand for food. You can help the food bank feed people in need by attending the travel show.

For more information contact AAA in Johnson City at (423)928-7671 or the Food Bank at (423)477-4053.

 

Second Harvest of Northeast Tennessee Announces Walmart Foundation Donation

Mobile Food Pantry

Jan 18, 2012 –
Northeast, TN – Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee announces they are the recipient of a $40,000 grant from Walmart State Giving to benefit the Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry program. This program provides assistance to people in communities that have little or no access to food.  The Walmart State Giving Grant, along with a new truck donated recently from the American Idol Gives Back Foundation and Feeding America, enables the Food Bank to expand its Mobile Food Pantry program.

During Fiscal Year 2012, the Mobile Food Pantry made 170 distributions, giving out over 397,000 pounds of food. Currently the Mobile Food Pantry is serving 22 sites in Northeast Tennessee. By 2013 the Food Bank hopes to serve 45 sites per month with the Mobile Pantry. The Mobile Food Pantry began as a pilot project in October of 2009. Second Harvest’s extensive gap analysis has identified communities in every county of its service area where people may not have enough access to retail stores, food pantries, soup kitchens, and other resources, along with a significant proportion of individuals living at or below the poverty level. These communities are targeted for the expansion of the Mobile Food Pantry Program. The Food Bank also plans to add sites in the other counties, and will increase the amount and nutritional quality of food included in each box distributed.    

Through the State Giving Program, the Walmart Foundation supports organizations with programs that align with their mission to create opportunities so people can live better. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s current focus is on hunger relief efforts in the U.S. in order to support the record 1 in 6 Americans who do not know where their next meal is coming from. Walmart’s network of more than 4,000 store and club locations provided more than $11.9 million in funding to state and local-level organizations last year.

In addition to the Walmart Foundation Grant, the Food Bank is pleased to announce that one of their agencies, New Victory Baptist Church Help Center, Jonesborough, TN was the recipient of one of twelve $10,000 grants awarded during Walmart’s “12 Days of Giving” Facebook campaign. New Victory was chosen from more than 5,400 nominations from Facebook users who shared photos and descriptions of the nonprofit’s impact on their local community.

Over 8 million pounds of food and grocery products were distributed by the Food Bank during 2011, enough for over 5 million meals.  During 2011 food bank agencies and programs served over 36,000 individuals per month. The Food Bank encourages the community to get involved in helping feed the hungry in Northeast Tennessee. Ways to help include making a monetary donation, becoming a Food Bank agency, volunteering or holding a food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee. Visit the Food Bank’s website http://www.netfoodbank.org for more information.

 

HEAT or EAT? Families Shouldn’t Have to Make the Choice

HEAT or EAT?

The need for food assistance increases during the winter months as many families and individuals struggle to make the choice between heating their homes and putting food on the table.

In a national study of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) recipients, 30% reported going without food for at least one day, 41% went without medical or dental care, 33% did not fill a prescription or took less than a full dose of their medication and 25% had someone in the home who became sick because the home was too cold. Source:  The National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association, 2009 National Energy Assistance Survey.

Over 200 partner agencies work with your local Food Bank to help ease this burden by providing food and groceries to people in need.  Whether it is a can of food, an hour of your time, or a monetary donation, your support helps us fight hunger in Northeast Tennessee!

If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, contact the Food Bank or view our website for a list of partner agencies that can assist you. If you know someone in need of heating assistance, the local contact is the Upper East TN Human Development Agency (UETHDA).

 

 

Help us Create a Holiday Wish List to Fight Hunger!

Second Harvest is asking you (our great supporters/volunteers) to help us create a holiday wish list to fight hunger.  Help us come up with a creative list by sharing your ideas with us.

Think big—what would you like to see happen for hunger relief in 2012? These questions might help get you started:

• What should Congress do to end hunger?
• What would be the biggest help for food banks?
• How cand YOU – individual Americans – make a difference?
• What should corporate America do to help?

These ideas may be the start of something big. Help Second Harvest start the New Year off right!

Thank you!

 

News Report Highlights Dilemma of Hungry Families

NBC’s “Rock Center with Brian Williams” reported on the struggle that many working families have in providing food for themselves.  The families interviewed, along with 49 million Americans, are labeled as “hunger insecure,” meaning that in some way or fashion, it is becoming more difficult to maintain an adequate supply of food.

Watch the video and share your thoughts on this increasing trend facing working families nationwide and in Northeast Tennessee.

 

Project Thanksgiving 2011

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We just completed our Project Thanksgiving 2011. We would love to hear some stories from anyone who was part of it on the giving or receiving end?

Please visit:

Emerging Power series: Rhonda Chafin, executive director of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee

 

Project Thanksgiving 2011 – Thanksgiving feast for a family in need

88.3 WCQR Project Thanksgiving

WCQR is once again teaming up with Second Harvest Food Bank for “PROJECT THANKSGIVING”. For only $25, your family will provide a Thanksgiving feast for a family in need. Your donation will provide turkey with all the trimmings, beans, corn, potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, mac & cheese, bread, and dessert as well as a New Testament Bible for each family. Our goal this year is to feed 5,000 families our area! Get with your friends, families, co-workers, church groups, etc and make feeding families your fall project! What a great way to bless someone at Thanksgiving! Contact Us or visit http://www.wcqr.org/