Let’s come together and make a difference in our community.
Join our building campaign and help provide food for those in need. Together we can make a big impact!
Our Need
Increasing Capacity
A key initiative of Second Harvest’s Strategic Plan is the expansion of our building to help meet the growing need for hunger relief in our service region.
Increasing Volunteers – Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization
- There is an immediate need to accommodate the increasing number of volunteers
- Volunteers need an expanded and improved work, training, and breakroom area
- Conveniently located restrooms are needed for volunteers
- We will maximize our efforts to distribute food by accommodating more volunteers, helping facilitate targeted volunteerism, and improving their experience leading to ongoing support
Increasing efficiency – Operational staff are essential to our mission
- An expanded and dedicated space for operational staff allows for more efficient and effective management, ensuring smooth workflow and coordination
- Growing operational staff need additional office and meeting space
- A centralized location for operational staff allows for improved communication, streamlines workflow, and ensures access to resources
Our Vision
A Hunger Free Northeast Tennessee
Solving Hunger Today – End Hunger Tomorrow
Long-Range Transformational Strategies to lower food insecurity to 5% by 2030:
Feed and Nourish neighbors in need by expanding our reach to distribute nutritious food and create on-ramps for better nutrition.
Empower our regional community by connecting people to community services in order to increase food security.
Unite our regional community to foster empathy to drive social change and increase public passion to end hunger.
Transform our regional community by leveraging resources and technology to improve effectiveness and efficiency
Our Response
Building Expansion Plan
Phase I – Internal Volunteer Center Expansion
- Increase and improve volunteer work area and their ability to sort and pack nourishing food for distribution.
Phase II – External Facility Expansion
- Provide volunteers with a reception and registration area, volunteer training, and breakroom with kitchenette.
- Develop an office complex and a small meeting room for our growing operational staff.
- Provide easily accessible restrooms. Currently, the only restrooms are at the front of the building.
Phase III – Future Development
Your Opportunity
A Lasting Place in Our Plan
With the Northeast Tennessee community’s belief and support of Second Harvest’s mission, the food bank continues to be a symbol of hope by steadfastly serving neighbors who are food insecure and hungry in our eight-county region.
For 37 years we have developed and enhanced our programs, services, and partnerships in order to distribute nourishing food.
Your help and support are needed for this next step in our journey toward a Hunger Free Northeast Tennessee. Please consider joining in this plan to welcome more volunteers and operational staff with a greatly needed building expansion. Help us by solving hunger today and ending hunger tomorrow. Thank you for your consideration!
Our Project Budget
$2,000,000 Goal
$1,000,000 as of 2/15/24
Building Expansion Campaign Naming Opportunities
Location |
Gift Amount |
Status |
| The James & Laura Rogers Volunteer Center | $750,000 | Received |
| Community Kitchen | $250,000 | Received |
| Office Complex | $250,000 | |
| Volunteer Training / Breakroom, Kitchenette, Restrooms | $150,000 | |
| Major Donor Wall | $1,000 and up | |
| Other Naming Opportunites | TBD |
Other Campaign Commitments
- Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation
- Publix’s Super Market Charities
- Food City
- Bank of Tennessee
As building plans are finalized, additional naming opportunities may be added. If you have a specific request in mind, please contact Rhonda Chafin, Executive Director for more information. Email rchafin@netfoodbank.org or call (423) 269-2466.
A Message from Our Board President
“The Board of Directors is committed to this expansion and what it will mean for the community. It will translate to more meals, better nutritional quality of our food bank’s food aid, reduced retail and restaurant food waste, more volunteerism, and new mobilization of resources to close the gap on hunger. We are extremely excited to share this vision and legacy opportunity with our philanthropic community.”