Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee has successfully concluded its annual Pack the Bag fundraiser, held Feb. 12–23, in support of its Food for Kids program. Thanks to the generosity of donors and community partners, this year’s campaign will help provide more than 100,000 Food for Kids bags to the 15,000 children who face food insecurity when out of school.
The Food for Kids program partners with more than 300 public schools across East Tennessee to send home nutritious, kid-friendly food every week. Each participating student receives 4 complete meals, 4 snacks, and 1 milk, a total of 9 items, covering breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and in-betweens.
“As a community bank, supporting Tennessee families is central to who we are,” said Jimmy Dalton, Community Reinvestment Officer at SouthEast Bank. “We are proud to serve as the title sponsor of Pack the Bag and to stand alongside Second Harvest in making sure children throughout East Tennessee have the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive.”
This year’s fundraiser was also supported by additional sponsors, including Republic Plastics, whose generosity helped amplify the reach and impact of the campaign.
Second Harvest raises funds for the Food for Kids program year-round, at no cost to students or participating schools, and continues to rely on community support to combat childhood hunger in its 18‑county service area. More information about Food for Kids and ongoing ways to support the program can be found at http://SecondHarvestETN.org/pack-the-bag/.
