Kingsport, TN – Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee held a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off phase II of their building expansion project on January 30, 2024.
The building expansion is an important initiative of the Food Bank’s Strategic Plan to help meet the growing need for hunger relief in Northeast Tennessee and part of their long-range transformational strategies to lower food insecurity to 5% by 2030.
A key initiative of Second Harvest’s Strategic Plan is to expand the current building to help meet the growing need for hunger relief in our service region. The 9,360-square-foot building expansion will increase the food bank’s capacity to distribute nourishing food to those in need in the area and enhance the volunteer experience.
Phase I included an internal expansion of the current volunteer center, which increased the volunteer work area and improved the space where volunteers sort and pack food for distribution. Phase II will include the external expansion, including a new volunteer area and an office complex. The volunteer area will consist of a reception and registration area, volunteer training space, breakroom with kitchenette, and conveniently located restrooms. The new office complex will accommodate the growing operational staff and include a small meeting room and office areas.
“This building expansion will accommodate the growing number of volunteers and staff needed to meet the rising need in our region. This expansion will give volunteers the space to work and train and provide conveniently located restrooms and a break area.
Along with more volunteers, we also have a growing staff that needs office and meeting space. The new space will provide a central location allowing for improved communication, streamlined workflow, and access to resources.” said Executive Director Rhonda Chafin.
Second Harvest would like to thank the following donors for their generous support of the expansion project: The James and Laura Rogers Foundation, Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation, Publix’s Super Market Charities, Food City, Bank of Tennessee, and Massengill Defriece.