Kingsport, TN – October 21, 2026 — Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee (SHFBNT) celebrated its 40th anniversary with a full day of activities honoring four decades of service, community partnerships, and impact in the fight against hunger throughout the region. The milestone celebration recognized the people and organizations that have helped advance the Food Bank’s mission while looking ahead to the future of hunger relief in Northeast Tennessee.
Denis McDonough, CEO of Feeding America and former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, joined SHFBNT as the day’s honored guest and keynote speaker. A distinguished public servant and leader, McDonough served as Secretary of Veterans Affairs until January 2025, overseeing one of the federal government’s largest agencies, with an annual budget of $370 billion and approximately 450,000 employees. Previously, he served as White House Chief of Staff during President Barack Obama’s second term, from February 2013 through January 2017. In his current role with Feeding America, McDonough leads the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, bringing a national perspective to the shared commitment to ensuring individuals and families have access to nutritious food.
The 40th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon served as a centerpiece of the day’s events, featuring a retrospective of SHFBNT’s history and regional impact, keynote remarks from McDonough, and recognition of the donors, partners, volunteers, and agency partners whose dedication has made the Food Bank’s work possible over the past four decades. Mr. McDonough also greeted Food Bank staff at a staff breakfast, spoke to agencies served by the Food Bank during the Annual Agency Conference that morning, and shared remarks with Food Bank donors and regional elected officials.
As part of this milestone anniversary celebration, Publix Super Markets Charities presented SHFBNT with a $310,000 donation which will strengthen its operations and support children experiencing food insecurity. The gift includes a $210,000 capital grant for essential facility improvements, including exterior repairs, security system updates, and flooring replacement to help maintain USDA food safety standards, as well as a $100,000 grant for the Food for Kids (FFK) backpack program, which provides healthy, kid-friendly food to more than 665 children during weekends and school breaks.
“We are very appreciative of Publix’s generosity and their investment in the infrastructure of the Food Bank infrastructure to ensure that we have facilities that meet safety standards as well as enable us to serve the food insecure individuals in this region for several more decades, as well as prioritizing the importance of healthy, nutritious food for the children in Northeast Tennessee so they are able to grow and thrive,” said Rhonda Chafin, CEO of SHFBNT.
As SHFBNT celebrates 40 years of service, the anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on the progress made through the generosity and collaboration of the community while recognizing the work that remains to ensure every individual has access to nutritious food. With the continued support of donors, volunteers, community partners, and organizations like Publix Super Markets Charities, SHFBNT looks forward to building on its legacy and advancing its mission to end hunger across Northeast Tennessee for generations to come.