ANNUAL REPORT
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
In a year marked by both challenges and triumphs, our lessons from the past have paved our path for the future. Whether it was lending steadfast support to those affected by natural disasters or navigating supply chain disruptions right at our doorstep, the unforeseen has become our new familiar. Yet, throughout it all, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee has remained a steady beacon of hope and change.
Our persistent dedication shone through as we navigated every hurdle, with the neighbors we serve always at the heart of our actions. As Middle and West Tennessee evolve and grow, our approach has mirrored that change. We’ve introduced culturally relevant food boxes, recognizing that food is more than just sustenance-it’s a connection to one’s heritage and a source of comfort. A nourishing meal serves as a testament to a person’s cherished place in our community.
Within these pages, you’ll discover the remarkable achievements made possible by your contributions. Stories of families touched by our efforts underscore your profound impact. Families like Stephanie’s, who faced challenges after a job loss and her husband’s heart condition diagnosis made it hard to make ends meet, or Jesse’s, an aspiring veterinarian who fuels his future at an Afterschool Meal Program. Every donation, whether it’s money, time, or food, acts as a lifeline for our neighbors in need.
Our strategic partnerships and your unwavering support have driven our vision. Notably, the generosity of the Sumpter Yeaman Charitable Foundation has greatly enhanced our in-house Market. It is now aptly named the Sumpter Yeaman Charitable Foundation Market. This enhancement allows our Partner Agencies to secure hard-to-find food items, including dairy, protein, and fresh produce.
To all our stakeholders from our dedicated team and board to our generous donors and irreplaceable volunteers, to our Partner Agencies – your continuous support is the bedrock of our achievements. It’s the essence of community and collaboration that amplifies our role in battling hunger. Middle and West Tennessee’s dedication to this cause fuels our passion, and we sincerely say: without you, our mission wouldn’t be possible. Our gratitude is boundless, and as we step into the next fiscal year, we do so with hope and a renewed spirit.
Second Harvest will remain committed to the priority of stabilizing households with nutritious foods to eliminate food insecurity. In 2024, we will embark on a bold vision to further amplify our work by leveraging partnerships to tackle root-causes of food insecurity and to advance hunger solutions. This work will be informed by the voices of individuals in the communities we serve.
We invite you to continue this journey with us, knowing that every step taken is a stride towards lasting change. Rest assured, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee stands resolute in our dedication to our beloved community.
President & CEO
How We Work
How We Work
How We Work
Feeding Programs
At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program
Second Harvest sponsored nine At-Risk Afterschool meal programs and provided over 33,000 meals to participating children during the school year. The program runs for 10 months during the school year and food costs are reimbursed through the Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
BackPack Program
The BackPack Program provides easy-to-prepare food for at-risk children on weekends and during school breaks when other resources are unavailable. More than 8,500 children received BackPacks each week.
Emergency Food Box Program
The Emergency Food Box Program provides food assistance to individuals and families on an urgent-need basis through 11 sites in Davidson County. More than 1.4 million meals were provided through the program, which included two to three days of staple food items based on the number of people in the household.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
CSFP works to improve the health of low-income senior adults by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods. Managed by Second Harvest in Davidson County, CSFP is a USDA-funded program that provided a monthly food box to more than 1,900 participating seniors living on a fixed income.
BETTE’S ANGEL
Struggling when the pandemic erased her income, Bette was hospitalized, and unable to afford food. “All my savings went into bills,” Bette recounts. Discovering the Commodity Supplemental Food Program restored her health. She eagerly anticipates our visits, stating, “I’ve had guardian angels along the way, and I consider Second Harvest to be one of my angels.”
HARVESTING HOPE AT SMILEY’S FARM
Smiley’s Farm in Robertson County has been providing Middle Tennessee with fresh produce since 1805. Now, with Second Harvest and the LFPA Grant, Troy Smiley is able to practice his ethos – no one should go hungry, and everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food. “I like getting people good food,” he emphasizes.
Farm to Families
The Farm to Families Program engages farmers and Partner Agencies to supply locally grown, nutritious produce to those in need, ensuring less food goes to waste. The Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) grant has made it possible for Second Harvest to provide fresh, nutritious foods to our neighbors, showcase regional producers, and strengthen our local economy. In 2023, Second Harvest supported 23 counties, 46 Partner Agencies, and purchased from 50 local growers and producers through the LFPA grant.
Grocery Rescue Program
Second Harvest rescues, sorts, and distributes frozen meat, dairy, produce, and dry groceries from 314 grocery stores and food donors. The Grocery Rescue Program rescued 11.6 million pounds of safe to eat food that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill.
Healthcare
Our healthcare programs are vital in addressing the intersection between hunger and health. We have food pharmacies at select federally qualified health clinics that provide nourishment to neighbors who struggle with food insecurity. In addition to food, they are equipped with other necessary wraparound services to address all social determinants of health.
Kids Cafe
Kids Cafe provides free meals, snacks, and nutrition education to children facing hunger through a variety of community programs during the school year and in the summer months. More than 33,000 meals and snacks were distributed last year.
Mobile Pantries
Second Harvest coordinates large-scale, one-day distributions with Partner Agencies to provide food directly to individuals and families in need. A typical Mobile Pantry provides a family with several days of groceries. More than 138,000 individuals received assistance through this program.
METRO PD FIGHTS HUNGER
Metro Nashville Police Officers organized a Mobile Pantry in Davidson County, providing fresh fruits, vegetables, and shelf stable essentials to approximately 300 households. This event emphasized community engagement and support in the area.
Nutrition Outreach
The Nutrition Outreach program, led by our Registered Dietitian and dietetic interns, offers poverty-conscious nutrition education, recipes, and cooking classes to neighbors. Additionally, our Partner Agencies are trained in the client choice model and Healthy Eating Research Nutrition Guidelines, which teach them to prioritize making nutrient dense foods available and ensures neighbors have a choice in the foods they receive from the pantry.
Partner Agencies
Second Harvest distributes food and other products to more than 420 community Partner Agencies in Middle and West Tennessee. Partners include food pantries, congregate meal sites, shelters, youth programs, and senior centers.
Project Preserve®
Project Preserve® leverages economies of scale, manufacturing, and logistics expertise to provide a comprehensive co-op and manufacturing program for Partner Agencies and the Feeding America food bank network. Project Preserve® provides fully assembled custom disaster relief and feeding program boxes. In addition, our USDA inspected manufacturing facility produces nutritious boil-in-a-bag meals as well as tray-pack meals for our onsite feeding programs.
School Food Pantry Program
The School Food Pantry Program increases food access for school children and their families. School-based pantries have a permanent residence within a school, where food is distributed to children and their families as-needed. Over 311,000 meals were provided through 48 sites.
Senior Nutrition Program
The Senior Nutrition Program provides low-income senior adults with food resources that are nutritious, easy-to-prepare, and shelf-stable. The food is distributed weekly or monthly depending on the senior’s needs.
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
Second Harvest sponsors SFSP at sites throughout Middle and West Tennessee each summer. Through this program, we provided more than 5,000 breakfasts and lunches in the summer of 2023 to help ensure children facing hunger continued to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Outreach
Second Harvest offers SNAP outreach and application assistance at our Emergency Food Box sites, Mobile Pantry distributions, and Partner Agency locations. We share information about the benefits and provide prescreening for people who may qualify. Nearly 1,100 SNAP applications were completed by providing direct client assistance.
STORIES OF HOPE
“Thank you for blessing our family. Hopefully one day we’ll be able to bless another family like you have blessed us,” she smiles.
“Yes, this is very helpful. I’ve been getting food from here for 10 years … It’s a great help! A big help!” He shares his experiences with a Second Harvest Partner Agency in Montgomery County with gratitude.
Our Impact
Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope ®
Sumpter Yeaman Charitable Foundation Market Dedication
We dedicated our in-house market to longtime partner, the Sumpter Yeaman Charitable Foundation, a steadfast supporter of Second Harvest. A dedication ceremony of the newly named Sumpter Yeaman Charitable Foundation Market honored the Foundation’s unwavering support of our mission. The newly named Market assists Partner Agencies in procuring essential items to combat hunger in Middle Tennessee while also reducing food waste.
Feed the Need
We were privileged to collaborate with the Rotary Club of Nashville for the 21st Feed the Need initiative to nourish over 1,900 families during the festive season. Lisa Ferrelli, Rotary President, expressed, “Rotarians are people of action. We are thrilled to host our 21st annual Feed the Need event, serving alongside fellow Rotarians as we serve our community.”
Blue Heron Farmstead
Brittney from Blue Heron Farmstead has been farming in Tennessee for four years. With no traditional farming background, she was inspired by local farmers to embark on a new path. Today, Blue Heron Farmstead, with help from the LFPA grant, thrives, producing a diverse range of organic produce. Motivated by her desire to feed her community, Brittney shares, “I’ve been happy to do it. I never want to see my food go to waste, and this grant has been so important to helping us farmers.” With a dedication to sustainability and nature, she emphasizes, “I work with the land, and not against it.”
Stars for Second Harvest
On June 6, we held the 2023 Stars for Second Harvest concert at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Featuring country star ERNEST, we celebrated Craig Wiseman’s last year as host of the benefit concert. Supported by American Airlines, the event also showcased Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins, and Jake Worthington. Over $168,000 was raised to provide food for our neighbors facing hunger.
Disaster Relief
Thanks to funding from Feeding America and the dedicated support of our volunteers, Second Harvest promptly responded to Hurricane Ian’s devastation in Florida in September 2022. Over 100,000 Disaster Relief Boxes were packed, and Partnership Manager, Vivian Bowen, personally assisted in local recovery efforts. During the two weeks she spent in Florida, she saw first-hand the destruction of Hurricane Ian and provided food relief to 800-1,200 households daily.
Generous Helpings
We were thrilled to collaborate with 27 local eateries, restaurants, and vendors as Generous Helpings made its anticipated return after a three-year hiatus. This year’s Generous Helpings, along with Kroger’s “Zero Hunger, Zero Waste” commitment, brought in over $170,000 for our Grocery Rescue Program. Congratulations to the People’s Choice Award Winning Restaurant, TomKats!
Food for Thought
Second Harvest was honored to host our inaugural “Food for Thought” event of 2023 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We were privileged to host Dr. David Holmes, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Lipscomb University, who enlightened us on Dr. King’s enduring legacy and the profound influence his work still has today.
Titans Food Drive
The Tennessee Titans rallied on the field, and Titans fans united off the field. We scored big against hunger by amassing 2,500 pounds of food while also kicking in over $1,000 in donations – that’s nearly 7,400 meals! This remarkable effort against food insecurity will fortify Second Harvest’s defense against hunger. Titan Up!
Lifepoint Partnership
Lifepoint has partnered with Second Harvest for seven years. This collaboration has allowed Second Harvest to provide 1,120 nutrient-dense, diabetes-friendly tray packs to underserved communities throughout our service area. A Davidson County neighbor remarked, “These meals are a tremendous blessing.” Our tray packs are crucial, not only for addressing immediate nourishment but also, for managing long-term health issues and combating obesity, reinforcing our belief that fighting hunger is about more than just providing food – it’s about building a foundation for healthier living.
PROUDLY SERVING 46 COUNTIES
in Middle and West Tennessee
| COUNTY | Partner Agencies | Food-Insecure Individuals | Food-Insecure Children | TOTAL MEALS PROVIDED | TOTALS | 415 | 314,200 | 71,580 | 38,990,869 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 BEDFORD | 11 | 5,730 | 1,450 | 859,418 |
 BENTON | 6 | 2,530 | 510 | 648,291 |
 CANNON | 1 | 1,930 | 390 | 176,519 |
 CARROLL | 3 | 3,880 | 880 | 275,879 |
 CHEATHAM | 4 | 3,970 | 620 | 293,000 |
 CHESTER | 3 | 1,950 | 410 | 170,462 |
 CLAY | 2 | 1,300 | 230 | 102,598 |
 COFFEE | 18 | 7,810 | 1,780 | 3,081,027 |
 DAVIDSON | 117 | 73,360 | 20,760 | 9,874,420 |
 DECATUR | 3 | 1,640 | 310 | 197,081 |
 DEKALB | 4 | 2,970 | 630 | 357,791 |
 DICKSON | 5 | 5,690 | 1,060 | 573,402 |
 FRANKLIN | 4 | 5,470 | 1,150 | 402,119 |
 GIBSON | 8 | 6,300 | 1,760 | 625,603 |
 GILES | 6 | 3,420 | 740 | 437,629 |
 HARDIN | 4 | 3,690 | 750 | 414,229 |
 HENDERSON | 7 | 3,630 | 710 | 339,108 |
 HENRY | 6 | 4,730 | 1,130 | 423,705 |
 HICKMAN | 2 | 2,920 | 520 | 484,290 |
 HOUSTON | 3 | 1,010 | 170 | 161,650 |
 HUMPHREYS | 6 | 2,080 | 370 | 568,838 |
 JACKSON | 1 | 1,710 | 280 | 284,316 |
 LAWRENCE | 7 | 5,870 | 1,280 | 511,562 |
 LEWIS | 3 | 1,900 | 390 | 1,053,827 |
 LINCOLN | 5 | 3,770 | 780 | 320,828 |
 MACON | 4 | 3,510 | 760 | 321,823 |
 MARSHALL | 4 | 4,140 | 910 | 333,382 |
 MAURY | 19 | 8,910 | 2,070 | 1,224,271 |
 MONTGOMERY | 21 | 22,780 | 7,400 | 2,169,692 |
 MOORE | 1 | 570 | 50 | 45,316 |
 OVERTON | 1 | 3,000 | 570 | 532,718 |
 PERRY | 1 | 1,390 | 330 | 180,529 |
 PICKETT | 1 | 840 | 170 | 62,300 |
 PUTNAM | 21 | 9,780 | 1,940 | 1,082,128 |
 ROBERTSON | 6 | 7,100 | 1,600 | 582,082 |
 RUTHERFORD | 23 | 28,350 | 6,520 | 2,596,509 |
 SMITH | 2 | 2,320 | 490 | 311,697 |
 STEWART | 5 | 1,620 | 350 | 250,585 |
 SUMNER | 20 | 17,600 | 3,710 | 1,825,709 |
 TROUSDALE | 3 | 1,110 | 210 | 125,712 |
 WARREN | 4 | 6,060 | 1,530 | 508,768 |
 WAYNE | 3 | 2,220 | 370 | 216,793 |
 WEAKLEY | 5 | 4,600 | 940 | 340,949 |
 WHITE | 6 | 3,420 | 640 | 348,774 |
 WILLIAMSON | 9 | 13,320 | 00 | 2,194,765 |
 WILSON | 17 | 12,300 | 1,960 | 1,098,775 |
Food insecurity data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap 2020 study.
Our Resources
Where our food
comes from
where our food goes
where our
resources
come from
where our
funding comes from
Statement of Activities
| PUBLIC SUPPORT AND REVENUE | Without Donor Restrictions | With Donor Restrictions | Totals | TOTAL PUBLIC SUPPORT AND REVENUE | 89,869,290 | 1,213,949 | 91,083,239 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donated Food | $55,262,979 | $- | $55,262,979 |
| Contributions of cash and financial assets | 14,676,728 | 3,551,481 | 18,228,209 |
| Contributions of non-financial asset | 22,402 | - | 22,402 |
| Government grants - cash | 4,891,633 | - | 4,891,633 |
| Government grants - commodities | 9,798,902 | - | 9,798,902 |
| Special events and activities | 418,481 | - | 418,481 |
| Less: direct benefits to donors | (43,808) | - | (43,808) |
| Investment income (loss), net | 2,170,788 | - | 2,170,788 |
| Agency transportation reimbursement and other income | 333,653 | - | 333,653 |
| Net assets released in satisfaction of program restrictions | 2,337,532 | (2,337,532) | - |
| REVENUE - PROJECT PRESERVE® PROGRAM | Without Donor Restrictions | With Donor Restrictions | TOTALS | TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE | 94,299,913 | 1,213,949 | 95,513,862 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales to out of area network agencies, net of discount | 53,095,985 | - | 53,095,985 |
| Sales to local agencies | 4,303,195 | - | 4,303,195 |
| Donated food | 286,662 | - | 286,662 |
| TOTAL REVENUE - PROJECT PRESERVE® PROGRAM | 57,685,842 | - | 57,685,842 |
| LESS DIRECT COSTS AND EXPENSES - PROJECT PRESERVE® PROGRAM | (53,255,219) | - | (53,255,219) |
| GROSS PROFIT FROM PROJECT PRESERVE® PROGRAM | 4,430,623 | - | 4,430,623 |
| EXPENSES | Without Donor Restrictions | With Donor Restrictions | Totals | NET ASSETS - END OF YEAR | $60,356,693 | $3,509,680 | $63,866,373 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program services: | |||
| Emergency Food Box | 3,205,115 | - | 3,205,115 |
| Community Food Partners | 66,972,282 | - | 66,972,282 |
| Children’s Programs | 2,740,724 | - | 2,740,724 |
| Mobile Pantry | 8,971,015 | - | 8,971,015 |
| Total Program Services | 81,889,136 | - | 81,889,136 |
| Supporting services: | |||
| Management and general | 1,620,941 | - | 1,620,941 |
| Fundraising | 3,933,909 | - | 3,933,909 |
| Total Supporting Services | 5,554,850 | - | 5,554,850 |
| TOTAL EXPENSES | 87,443,986 | - | 87,443,986 |
| CHANGE IN NET ASSETS | 6,855,927 | 1,213,949 | 8,069,876 |
| NET ASSETS - BEGINNING OF YEAR | 53,500,766 | 2,295,731 | 55,796,497 |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shawn Williams Board Chair
Jennifer Peters Board Vice Chair
Troy Edwards Board Secretary
Bruce Esworthy Board Treasurer
Nancy Keil President & CEO
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- Dave Alperson
- Drew Berg
- Michelle Bonnett
- Jamaal Boykin
- Suzanne Buchanan
- Gerard Bullock
- Dr. Juliana Ospina Cano
MEMBERS Cont'd
- Lee Cunningham
- Andy Flatt
- Lisa Gardi
- Sonya Hostetler
- Michael Johnson
- Jerome Katz
- Brad Marks
- Tuwisha Rogers-Simpson
- Derek Schraw
- Cathy Spencer
- Katelyn Spivey
- Ute Strand
- Dr. Laquita Stribling
- Ryan Tabor
- Carman Wenkoff
- Nancy Youssef
INTERNS
- Benjamin Hertaus
- Elizabeth Jones
