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Tornado Response Update

Second Harvest Food Bank Ensures Food Resources are Available During The Response to Last Week’s Deadly Tornadoes

Since early morning on Tuesday, March 3, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee team has been assisting residents and other relief organizations as they work to assist the affected community. While authorities continue to assess of the needs of the community, Second Harvest will be working with a variety of partners to gather resources and emergency supplies for the Nashville area. 

“All of us at Second Harvest are devastated by the tornadoes that struck Nashville and surrounding counties in our service area, such as Benton, Putnam and Wilson,” said President and CEO Nancy Keil, on Tuesday. “Our team is working diligently to provide all the resources we can. We’ve appreciated the outpouring of support, and if members of our community would like to volunteer, please check our website secondharvestmidtn.org for details and opportunities as we work around the clock to help.” 

Activities currently underway:

  • As of March 9, Second Harvest has provided more than 100,000 meals to children, families and seniors impacted by the devastating tornadoes that tore through Middle Tennessee early morning on Tuesday, March 3.
  • Second Harvest team members were on the ground hours after the tornado hit Nashville, providing food and water to hundreds of residents seeking shelter at Centennial Sportsplex. 
  • Coordinating with the Red Cross, Second Harvest is providing 1,600 hot meals a day to be distributed through Disaster Mobile Response Units. The Food Bank is also providing lunch and dinner to 150 individuals seeking shelter at the Red Cross’ Charlotte Ave. facility, Thursday, March 12 – Tuesday, March 17.
  • Working with Metro Nashville Public Schools in Davidson County, Second Harvest is providing non-perishable food and fresh produce to students and families in need of food assistance – including distributing more than 2,000 emergency food boxes to 10 MNPS schools for families without access to nutritious meals as a result of school closures.
  • Coordinating with Wilson County and Lebanon Special School District (LSSD), Second Harvest has provided 430 Disaster Relief Food Boxes and BackPacks to be distributed to students and families impacted by the tornadoes. 
  • Second Harvest provided food and water to the thousands of residents who lost power and sustained damage at the following MDHA locations: Edgefield Manor, Cumberland View Apartments, Cheatham Place Apartments, Preston Taylor Homes, Andrew Jackson Courts, and Sam Levy Homes. 
  • Second Harvest is currently working with dozens of community partners, directing food to Partner Agencies and organizations in need of immediate assistance. 
  • In response to the impact all Second Harvest Emergency Food Box sites in Davidson County will now serve residents of Wilson County while recovery efforts continue. In addition, Second Harvest is lifting the restriction of 3 boxes every 6 month throughout the duration of the disaster relief. 
  • Second Harvest team members twice delivered tray pack meals and food items to Conexion Americas to be distributed in Hermitage and areas of Wilson County.
  • Second Harvest is also working with Partner Agencies to deploy large food distributions in areas greatly affected by the storms, including the March 7 food distribution at Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Buena Vista. 
  • Second Harvest’s fleet continues to be on the road, ensuring our more than 470 Partner Agencies have the food they need to serve those facing hunger in our community.   
  • Starting Thursday, March 12, News Channel 5 will be live from 4-7PM at a different Kroger store each week collecting non-perishable food items for Second Harvest. 
  • Second Harvest has extended hours to accept donations over the weekend in response to requests from the community – Saturday, 9AM-4PM, and Sunday, 11AM-4PM.   
  • Second Harvest is providing water and snacks to all three Metro Disaster Assistance Centers, which opened Saturday, March 7, and operate seven-days a week to assist Davidson County residents in need of support.
  • Beginning Sunday, March 8, Hermitage Hills Methodist Church will be operating seven days a week as a Disaster Resource Center with food provided by Second Harvest. 
  • Second Harvest is working with community partners to raise awareness of available SNAP replacement benefits for SNAP recipients who lost food due to power outages or home damage as a result of Tuesday, March 3’s devastating tornadoes.  

Additional information:

Need help?

Food and shelter is being provided at Red Cross TN – 2201 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37203. Individuals can also find additional food resources CLICK HERE or by calling 2-1-1. 

Want to give?

  • DONATE FUNDS: Every $1 donated provides 4 meals. Your support will enable us to provide food to those impacted by the devastating storms now and for the days, weeks and months ahead. Individuals interested in making a donation can do so through our WEBSITE, or by calling 615-329-3491.
  • DONATE FOOD: The most essential food items needed include: pop-top canned meats, vegetables and fruit; ready-to-eat soups and stews; peanut butter and crackers; cereal; and breakfast /energy bars. Food donations can be dropped off at any Kroger location (look for the Second Harvest donation barrels) or at Second Harvest’s Nashville Distribution Center (331 Great Circle Road, Nashville, TN 37228) – Monday – Friday, 8AM-4PM; Saturday, 9AM-4PM; and Sunday, 11AM-4PM.

Want to volunteer?

Individuals interested in volunteering to build emergency food boxes or take on other disaster relief tasks can send an email here with their contact information. We’ll email you as soon as specific dates and times are available.

We will provide additional information when available. Thank you all for your support.

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