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Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee has been working to bring equitable access to food to our neighbors since 1978. We are proud to be a part of the Feeding America network, the largest nonprofit and hunger relief organization in the country, which ensures every county in the United States has access to a food bank.
Second Harvest is the largest hunger relief organization in Tennessee, serving 46 counties across the state. Over the last 46 years, we have become an integral part of our community and the greater food system, empowering communities and nourishing neighbors every day.
The team at Second Harvest have always been experts in logistics and food distribution. Since it began in 1978, Second Harvest has been a representation of what’s possible when community members and agencies come together to make an even greater impact. We have always been about sourcing and directing resources to those who need it – and doing it efficiently and effectively. We have done this by intentionally working together with our community and other members of the food system to increase equitable access to food and resources while minimizing waste.
Second Harvest was born out of the collective commitment of more than 30 public and private food assistance entities. Modeled after the first food bank established in Phoenix in the mid-1960s, the organization was designed to collect food that would otherwise be wasted, then inspect it, sort it, and distribute it to soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters. During the first year, Second Harvest distributed 160,000 pounds of food to 75 Partners. Last year, we distributed 47.8 million pounds of food and diverted 13.2 million pounds of food from landfills as we continue to nourish and empower our neighbors to thrive.
Over the last 46 years, our organization has been interwoven with the fabric of our history and community, and we are grateful to our supporters, volunteers, and partners for being an integral part of this journey.
We are strategically working toward a sustainable future where everyone is food secure and no food is wasted, but we know that to get there, we have to approach the complex issue of food insecurity from many angles. It is our responsibility to nourish our neighbors with food today, empower them with food for tomorrow, and equip them to thrive with food for a lifetime.
Through our food distribution and programs, we provide food for today. We work with our neighbors to discern barriers that prevent access to the food and resources they need; then we work to creatively and sustainably overcome them. One of the ways we do this is with Mobile Markets, overcoming the barrier of a lack of reliable transportation. Mobile Markets make nutritious food available in areas without access to affordable, quality grocery stores (often called “food deserts”).
Through our wraparound services like SNAP assistance and legal aid, alongside our priorities addressing sustainable farming, strategic food sourcing, food system integration, we help address challenges that impact food security, equipping neighbors to find stability and access food for tomorrow.
Through our efforts in community education, workforce development, nutrition education, and additional resources with strategic partners in the community we are committed to addressing the root causes of food insecurity. We’re bridging the gap for our neighbors to find stability and self-sufficiency, helping provide food for a lifetime.
As we continue in our mission, we are dedicated to pursuing work that not only meets immediate needs, but transforms the lives of the people we serve long-term.
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