Why We Matter

Working Toward Equitable Access for Everyone

1 in 8 Middle and West Tennesseans face food insecurity, while at the same time, landfills are piling up with wasted food.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is working toward a future in which everyone has equitable access to the food and resources they need, while minimizing food waste in the process. We are a crucial part of the food system in the communities we serve, creating a future in which everyone is food secure and no food is wasted.

Through food distribution, wrap-around services, partnerships, sustainability efforts, and more, we are working to provide food for today, food for tomorrow, and food for a lifetime. Our work empowers people and creates sustainable solutions to major ecological and economic issues. When you support Second Harvest, you are doing both.

Hunger Education

Many people are unaware of the extent that food insecurity impacts people in their own communities. Whether you live in a suburban, rural or urban setting, hunger exists in your area. Almost 500,000 people in Middle and West Tennessee experience food insecurity – and you can help change that.

Sustainability

In Tennessee, food accounts for an estimated 24 percent of the waste in landfills. When so many people are facing food insecurity, we have to work together to minimize waste. Second Harvest is the number one diverter of food from landfills in Tennessee.

Support for the Whole Person

A person’s wellbeing starts with access to nutritious food. Second Harvest meets people where they are to not only meet their immediate needs, but connect them with resources so they can truly thrive.

From workforce development, nutrition education, and additional resources with strategic partners in the community, we support our neighbors’ wellbeing by connecting them with a wide range of resources depending on their unique needs, supporting them from all sides. Learn more about these programs and resources below.