Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is one of the largest and most comprehensive food banks in the nation. Their mission is to provide food to people facing hunger, and they work to advance solutions to hunger. Second Harvest serves 46 counties through a network of more than 600 Partner Agencies—including food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters—ensuring that families, seniors, and children have access to nutritious food. Last year alone, they distributed 42.3 million meals and tens of millions of pounds of fresh produce to neighbors in need.

For nearly 50 years, they have welcomed their neighbors with hospitality, empowering them to live free from the daily burden of food insecurity. They strive for a future where everyone is food secure and no food is wasted.

Second Harvest was founded in 1978 from the collective commitment of over 30 public and private food assistance entities in Nashville. The committee decided on three principles that would come to be the initial groundwork for Second Harvest:

1) Second Harvest would be ready to act in an emergency feeding program that would go

into action when normal food distribution channels were shut down.

2) Second Harvest would make food available to those who need it.

3) Second Harvest would take donations of salvageable food that otherwise might be discarded to distribute.

As a community-focused organization, they are also intentional about listening to their neighbors to ensure that they are meeting their needs effectively and approaching their work with the utmost respect. They go beyond food distribution to empower people in the community through education, advocacy, and connecting them with the right resources to gain stability and move forward.

Pearce Barringer, Media and Communications Manager, shares, “ I serve as part of the marketing team. I help share stories of our neighbors, partners, and the organization. My work focuses on connecting the community to our mission and the people we serve. I have worked with Second Harvest for three years, and it has been an honor to use my skills to support such an important mission and help make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.”

There are many ways to join the fight against hunger:

Some of their exciting events are News 2 Food 2 Families, Summer’s Harvest, and Sunset

Soiree. Their signature events bring together the community to celebrate the work that has already been done to combat hunger in Middle and West Tennessee, and raise funding for the ongoing efforts. These events are Stars for Second Harvest, Ode to Otha, Generous Helps, and Chefs’ Dinner.

You can volunteer at www.secondharvestmidtn.org/volunteer. 

To host an event, go to www.secondharvestmidtn.org/getinvolved/event

Belle Meade Highlands resident Sheree Kelley Price proudly tells us, “I donate to Second Harvest because every person deserves a meal. Knowing my support helps many families and seniors in our community makes me so proud to be a part of their work and this wonderful nonprofit organization.”

Stroll Belle Meade is proud to spotlight Second Harvest, as this organization has a profound impact on our community. We also recognize Pearce Barringer, Manager of Media and Communications, and our Belle Meade Highlands resident, Sheree Kelley Price, for truly Making A Difference.