Who We Are

Our Beliefs

Our core beliefs are a crucial part of who we are as an organization, and they are reflected in our work and our relationships every day. At Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, we believe:

that access to food is a human right
in being a good neighbor
in meeting neighbors where they are, with compassion
in the power of connection, and that it is our role to connect resources with those who need them
that food makes tomorrow possible

Our Values

We are dedicated to living out these values in everything we do:

Adaptability - We explore and adjust to new conditions, and we have the courage to be versatile, adapting to the needs of our neighbors, partners and peers.
Co-creation - We move beyond collaboration to proactively develop innovative and neighbor-centric initiatives with our community.
Equity - We act with intention to remove barriers, include all voices, and meet people where they are.
Innovation - We are change agents unafraid to challenge the status quo. We boldly envision and implement new ways to meet needs.
Radical Hospitality - We authentically and intentionally create a culture of care and belonging for all.
Empathy & Compassion - We actively listen and hold space for our neighbors, partners, and one another so everyone can share their unique journeys.

Our Story

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee opened its doors in 1978 as a central distribution center for companies, groups, and individuals who wished to help provide food to people experiencing food insecurity in Middle Tennessee. Today, we work with more than 600 Partners to distribute millions of pounds of food each year across our 46-county service area, and we’ve diverted 29,700,000 pounds of quality food from landfills.