This Food Bank is Putting Humanity Back into Food
“It was a kind of ‘mom and pop’ type of place: just a group trying to get food out to their neighbors in need.” That’s how Madison Harmon, community outreach coordinator for Second Harvest Food Bank, describes the organization’s early days.
Now, this group is anything but small. Since its 1982 founding, Second Harvest Food Bank has become a recognized member of Feeding America & part of the Tennessee food bank network, plus established food distribution sites in 18 counties throughout East Tennessee [FN1]. Each region has its own system, working with local partners to meet the needs of families in nearly every county in the state. Through these coordinated efforts, Second Harvest serves over one million meals every month.
Hunger in the Local Community
The team at Second Harvest Food Bank in East Tennessee is particularly passionate about what they do, and with good reason. Before the pandemic began, experts estimated that over 160,000 people were going hungry in East Tennessee alone. Even more worrisomely, one out of every five children in this region was considered at-risk for hunger [FN2]. With the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent economic downturn, food insecurity and hunger have only become more widespread.
Second Harvest Food Banks exists to change those statistics, and that has started by building relationships within the communities.
Where the Food Comes From
Like most food banks, Second Harvest takes in donations from both individuals and local companies.
Physical donations of food are always welcome, but money is the best way for an individual to support Second Harvest since the food bank can buy food at lower-than-retail prices. With those discounts, each dollar donated can provide up to three meals for someone in need!
Still, local grocery stores and corporate sponsors provide most of the food bank’s resources. Stores like Publix donate both funds and unsold food. Shelf-stable items are taken to Second Harvest’s warehouse where they’re sorted and distributed to the organization’s partner agencies: a network of over 550 food pantries, shelters, and churches. Food bank employees also drive refrigerated vans to grocery stores and restaurants throughout town to collect fresh foods (like produce) that are deemed “too ugly” or otherwise not fit for sale. These items are then distributed directly to families through the food bank’s Food Rescue Program. “We’ve got about 7-10 guys on the road at all times,” recounts Madison, “They leave the warehouse with an empty truck and they come back with an empty truck. That’s the goal.” This program allows the food bank to distribute fresh food to families in need and help reduce food waste.
Feeding with Dignity
For the team at Second Harvest, the goal isn’t just to feed families: it’s also to treat people with dignity. Too often, people enter a food bank feeling a sense of shame.
Second Harvest wants to change that by building close relationships with everyone who enters — and by offering the same kind of food they would have bought in a grocery store. As Madison says,
“We want to put as much humanity back into food as we can. Yes, you’re using a food bank, but it’s the same food that I would go buy at the store — not just the rejected cans out of someone’s pantry. Before COVID-19, a lot of our pantries would do a shopping experience where you could go into the center and pick up the food that you want. We want to make sure that families get food that is nutritious, but also something they actually want to eat, so we include candies, cookies and fun things like that. At the end of the day, healthy food is good and the goal, but we want to include a little compassion back into it.”
For her, this work is personal. “I had so many friends in college that used food pantries,” she shared. “I went to University of Tennessee and we’ve got a program called Smokey’s Pantry that’s for college students. Sure, you can get scholarships to attend the university, but you still have to feed yourself while you’re there. Hunger doesn’t look like one person. It’s everyone and everywhere — even in the richest of schools and areas, there’s still plenty of people that are going hungry.”
The Impact of COVID-19
Hunger is particularly pervasive in the time of COVID-19.
As Madison observes, “We’ve seen a huge influx in need, but also in support. East Tennessee is an incredible generous and compassionate area of the country.” She says the need has seemed to come in waves and with unemployment numbers still on the rise, she anticipates yet another spike.
This time, however, Second Harvest is prepared. The food bank has now developed a system of food delivery boxes that can be safely transferred to individuals with little-to-no contact. In some counties, drivers have even been making special food deliveries to elderly participants and others who are unable to reach the food bank. Thankfully, existing programs like Senior Outreach, Rural Routes, Mobile Pantry and Summer Food for Kids have all made it much easier for Second Harvest to respond to this crisis effectively [FN3].
With widespread school closures, and in light of the continued uncertainty about whether or not schools will open in the fall, the Second Harvest is also very focused on feeding children. “We have worked with schools to make sure students in need are still identified and receiving more than enough food. Families are home together all day, so we make sure to include supplemental food in every box — enough for the entire family. Our Food for Kids team has done an incredible job making sure that there wasn’t even a hint of a break in service there.”
Despite the extra work and stress involved in feeding individuals during a pandemic, the team at Second Harvest is committed to pressing on in the fight to end hunger.
“The best day ever is when we’re all out of the job,” said Madison.
If you’d like to help Second Harvest Food Bank meet the needs of people in East Tennessee, you can donate online through their website at secondharvest.org.
Resources
1. https://www.publixcharities.org/second-harvest-food-bank-east-tennessee/
2. https://secondharvestetn.org/who-and-where/
3. https://secondharvestetn.org/programs/