Official Memo from Nancy Keil
President & CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
Behind every meal we provide is a story.
Stories of children who can now focus in class. Seniors who no longer have to skip dinner to pay the utility bill. Parents who can finally breathe a little easier knowing their family will go to bed with full stomachs. These stories are full of resilience, dignity, and courage—they are the stories of our neighbors.
Last week, we received alarming news: starting April 1st, Second Harvest will lose access to 30% of the federally provided food we receive through the USDA. This change means 700,000 fewer pounds of fresh produce, proteins, and dairy—food we must now replenish through other sources, at an estimated cost of $600,000 to replace these pounds for this quarter alone.
Next fiscal year, beginning July 1st, the shortfall grows even more severe. We anticipate a 4,000,000-pound deficit from the same USDA source and the end of another federal grant. That is the equivalent of 100 truckloads of food we are now working urgently to fill for the families who count on us. Purchasing the same amount of food will cost approximately $3,000,000.
We also learned that the USDA has canceled LFPA25 (Local Food Purchase Assistance) funding—an additional $3,000,000 that would have allowed us to continue to purchase farm-fresh food from Middle and West Tennessee growers. The impact of this loss is twofold: fewer families will have access to fresh, nutritious food, and local farmers will lose out on critical income. This decision affects both those who grow food and those who need it most.
These new setbacks compound the challenges we are already facing. Since 2020, Second Harvest has seen a 46% increase in people seeking food assistance. Rising inflation, reduced public support, and ongoing news of layoffs and closures continue to push more individuals to our doors. The need is growing—just as access to help is shrinking.
We are deeply concerned about what this means for our neighbors. We cannot bear the thought of children starting the day hungry, seniors skipping meals, or families running out of options. But we will not let these fears become our reality.
Second Harvest is responding with urgency and resolve.
We are stretching every dollar, doubling down on efficiency, and strengthening our partnerships to distribute as much nutritious food as possible throughout our 46 counties. Because food is not a privilege—it is a right. And we will do everything in our power to ensure that no one in our community goes without.
No matter the challenges, we are here. Backed by a network of more than 600 dedicated Partners, we are ready to meet this moment with hope, compassion, and determination. Food fuels stability. It opens doors. It fills tables. It creates the possibility of tomorrow.
There is work ahead—but we’ve faced hard times before. And just as we always have, we will rise to the occasion—together.
We will continue turning hunger into hope, one story at a time.
Gratefully,
Nancy Keil
President & CEO