Our May Share the Plate Partner: Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

One in eight Middle Tennesseans is at risk of hunger. Second Harvest’s mission is to provide food to people facing hunger and work to advance hunger solutions. It is a critical resource for the adults and children that it serves. In 2021, it supplied 42.5 million nutritious meals to neighbors in need, including 59,000 healthy meals and snacks provided through the Kids Cafe and At-Risk Afterschool meal programs.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is one of the largest and most comprehensive of more than 200 food banks and food distribution centers nationwide. It works to feed hungry people and solve hunger issues in Middle and West Tennessee. It collects, sorts, and distributes food and personal care products to more than 450 partner agencies throughout 46 Middle and West Tennessee counties. Partner agencies include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, foster care facilities, senior centers, group homes, and youth enrichment programs.

Second Harvest has feeding programs targeted to children, families, and seniors, and 96¢ of every $1 donated goes directly to feeding programs. For children, programs include the Kids Cafe, At-Risk Afterschool meal programs, school food pantries, the BackPack Program, which provides easy-to-prepare food for at-risk children on weekends and during school breaks, and the Summer Food Service Program, through which Second Harvest provides breakfasts, lunches, or suppers to help ensure that low-income Middle Tennessee children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session.