During Fiscal Year 2019, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee distributed close to 11 million pounds of food and 8.8 million meals to people in need throughout our 8 county service area in Northeast Tennessee. People in our area are struggling with hunger every single day. Food donations are always needed to meet these basic humanitarian efforts.
You can help ensure that more nutritious food is available for the community. Host a food drive or donate to a food drive near you:
2019 Food Drives
Johnson City
Newcomers Club-ongoing at club meetings
First Tennessee Area Agency on Aging & Disability-ongoing
Century Link-ongoing
Timber Lake Church-until the barrel is full
Central Elementary School 8/23/2019-12/9/2019
Ingle’s (N. Roan Street) 9/11/2019-9/28/2019
Benchmark Physical Therapy (Lyle Street) 10/1/2019-10/31/2019
Benchmark Physical Therapy (Boones Creek Road) 10/1/2019-10/31/2019
Johnson City Farmer’s Market 10/5/2019
Greater Love Church 10/12/2019
Kingsport
TVA-Boone Hydro Project-until the barrel is full
Greater Kingsport Family YMCA 9/1/2019-9/30/2019
Ingle’s (Ft. Henry Drive) 9/11/2019-9/28/2019
Benchmark Physical Therapy (Sheridan Square) 10/1/2019-10/31/2019
Benchmark Physical Therapy (East Stone Drive) 10/1/2019-10/31/2019
Bristol
Haynesfield Elementary 9/9/2019-10/4/2019
Benchmark Physical Therapy (Volunteer Parkway) 10/1/2019-10/31/2019
YMCA Bristol 10/4/2019-11/4/2019
2019 Holiday Haven Craft Sale and Show (at Avoca Christian Church) 11/9/2019 from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Elizabethton
Ingle’s (West Elk Ave) 9/11/2019-9/28/2019
Advance Financial (West Elk Ave) 11/5/2019-1/8/2020
piney flats
Benchmark Physical Therapy (Bristol Hwy.) 10/1/2019-10/31/2019
Greeneville
Ingle’s (Asheville Hwy.) 9/11/2019-9/28/2019
Ingle’s (E. Andrew Johnson Hwy.) 9/11/2019-9/28/2019
Benchmark Physical Therapy (W. Summer Street) 10/1/2019-10/31/2019
jonesborough
Ingle’s (W. Jackson Blvd) 9/11/2019-9/28/2019
Benchmark Physical Therapy (E. Jackson Blvd.) 10/1/2019-10/31/2019

Frequently Asked Questions
- Determine how and where food will be collected. You can use boxes, barrels or bins. Small to medium-size boxes work well for food drives. We can deliver barrels with at least 48 hours notice.
- Give us a starting/ending date and location of the drive. Once collected, you can deliver the food directly to us or call and we will come and pick it up. Pick-ups are coordinated into our current truck routes. This could take a couple of days depending on the service area location.
- If you are using our barrels to collect food they come with a poster or wrap that says “Food Drive to Benefit Second Harvest”. You may decorate the barrels by wrapping them with paper and then decorating the paper. PLEASE do not mark on the barrels or barrel wraps.
- Appoint someone in charge of logistics; i.e., barrel locations and the physical collection of the food. Set a goal: Decide how much food you would like to collect during your food drive. How many potential contributors do you have? How much can you expect to collect? Will you collect food or cash-or both?
- Consider holding internal competitions (between departments, floors, etc.) Award the winners with special recognition such as pizza, etc.
- Spread the word!!! Create a poster explaining your food drive and post it on walls, barrels, etc. to inform others. Put small fliers in paychecks, and mention in other communication with your group, like e-mails and newsletters.
Food items we always need include:
- Cereal/Rice/Dried Beans
- Canned Tuna Fish/Meat
- Canned Soups
- Spaghetti Sauce/Pasta/Noodles
- Peanut Butter
- Canned Tomatoes/Veggies/Fruit
- Mac & Cheese
- Baby Food
- Diapers
- Volunteers sort and box the items in the warehouse.
- The food is distributed to charities who serve those in need in Northeast TN.
- There is absolutely no cost to the donor or the charity.
We're Here To Help
We want your food drive to succeed. To register your food drive, fill out the form below or call Ashley at (423) 279-0430 x224.