FAQs

The information below is provided by Second Harvest Food Bank in their FY25 Food Drive Info Pack and, when noted with an asterisk (*), includes information according to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap (2024).

• Every day in East Tennessee, our neighbors are faced with a very difficult decision. Often, they must choose between paying for food, or other essentials, such as fuel, housing, and healthcare. This decision leads many to seek out emergency food assistance.
• Second Harvest believes in Food for ALL for East Tennessee. Each of our eight hunger-relief programs are designed to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to receive food within our 18-county service area.
• The total number of people experiencing food insecurity in East Tennessee has surpassed 202,500.*
• On average, 45.9% of those folks are above the SNAP threshold, meaning they do not qualify for governmental assistance.* Sometimes, even after receiving assistance, a hole can still be left in the needs of a household.
• Through eight hunger-relief programs, Second Harvest ensures that food makes it from our facility into the homes of our neighbors in need of food assistance. These programs include: Food for Kids, Senior Outreach, Mobile Pantry, Food Rescue, Partner Agencies, Nutrition Access, Empowerment Services, and School Pantry.
• In fiscal year 2024, Second Harvest distributed more than 26 Million pounds of food to 670+ Partner Agencies across an 8,000 square mile service area.

There are three ways you can participate in the food drive with TN Members 1st: 

• Drop off a physical, shelf-stable food donation to one of the donation stations located at either of our branches. A list of the most needed items has been included on this page.
• Provide a monetary donation at one of our teller lines. 
• Utilize the Nudge Money app within your digital banking to complete activities and earn points. 5 points = 1 meal. For every five points you earn on your financial wellness journey, the credit union will donate a meal to Second Harvest.

*Up to 3,000 meals, which equals up to a $1,000 monetary donation.

No glass containers, please. | No medications or alcohol.

• Peanut (or nut-free) Butter
  • Sunflower butter
• Canned Proteins
  • Tuna
  • Chicken
  • Salmon
  • Beans
• Canned Fruits
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Pineapple
• Canned Vegetables
  • Green beans
  • Corn
  • Mixed Veggies
• Canned Soups
  • Beef stew
  • Chicken noodle
  • Chili
• Staple Items
  • Rice
  • Dry beans
  • Dry pasta

No glass containers, please. | No medications or alcohol.

• Sunflower butter 
• Gluten-free pasta 
• Gluten and nut-free flour 
• Shelf-stable milk alternatives 
• Top 9 allergen-free snacks 
• Gluten-free cereal
• Any other allergy-friendly products

September is Hunger Action Month, the Feeding America network’s annual nationwide campaign designed to inspire people to take action and raise awareness of hunger and food insecurity in the United States. Throughout the month, Second Harvest Food Bank will be sharing ways everyone can support the fight against hunger, including participating in food drives like the one we'll have at the TN Members 1st FCU branches.

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee is leading the community in the fight to end hunger. 213,970 East Tennesseans are at risk of hunger, uncertain where their next meal will come from. At Second Harvest Food Bank, they are working to change that statistic in 18 East Tennessee counties and envision adequate nutrition for a healthy life for adults, seniors, and children in 18 counties of East Tennessee. Their programs strive to distribute food to every corner of the community, provide educational resources, and end the cycle of poverty.

To learn more about Second Harvest of East Tennessee, visit their website: secondharvestetn.org

Nudge Money is one of our newest partners, providing an app integrated into your digital banking experience that helps you stay focused, organized, and confident with your finances. For our Food Drive benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank, we've partnered with Nudge Money to provide you with another way to help us donate meals to our neighbors throughout East Tennessee. Simply access Nudge Money on your digital banking app, complete actions - like creating a budget, tracking expenses, or setting a savings goal- and you'll earn points! For every 5 points, we'll donate one meal to Second Harvest Food Bank, up to 3,000 meals (or $1,000 donation).

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