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Meet the people you’re helping

Hover over a picture to learn about some of the people you’re helping.

Anita

Anita has been visiting Second Harvest’s Produce Truck since it first started bringing fresh food to her apartment complex. There are times when her knees are so swollen she can’t go to the store on her own. Having The Produce Truck come right to her takes away those accessibility barriers. “It’s still a challenge, but I know I can get down here. Someone is going to help me get back up.” Anita often shares her meals with residents who for mobility or health reasons can’t leave their rooms. Her favorite part about receiving fresh produce? “It’s fresh fruit and produce. It’s not junk. It makes you cook more. I’m eating healthier!”

Shae and Joshua

Shae, Joshua and their children moved to Murfreesboro in order to create a better life for themselves. They say that there are more opportunities in the bigger city and more forms of assistance that give them the chance for a new start. Shae says that the assistance they have been receiving has helped them to feed their kids three times a day. Right now they have set a goal for themselves to get a house and support themselves, but it’s expensive in TN. “If it wasn’t for this organization, my kids would go hungry.” says Shae.

Ximena

Gallatin Shalom Zone is an afterschool at-risk feeding program for children of local residents. The children arrive after school to eat a meal, provided by Second Harvest Food Bank, and work on their homework with the assistance of afterschool program staff members, and play outside. The meals that kids receive at the afterschool program are vital to their overall wellbeing, “Many of the parents work during the day, and when they come by to pick up their children, it is very late for dinner. It improves behavior, focus, energy and everything that goes with food.”, says the Shalom Zone director.

Barry

Barry has been living in the area for a long time now, and he stops to pick up food at the Ark depending on the season — often winters are harder than summers. While at the pantry, Barry is also picking up some food to take to his mother, who is 83 years old. He gets some Food Stamps, but they are not that much. Barry is also disabled, he was a construction superintendent, but has been out of work since 2007. He also used to be in the Army. “I am a survivor,” says Barry.

Since the pandemic, 1 in 6 adults including 1 in 5 children struggle with hunger every day in Middle Tennessee.

Hunger is closer than you think, but so is the solution. Currently, Second Harvest is experiencing a startling increase in need and more people than ever are using the food bank’s resources for the first time. 

The Vanderbilt University Staff Advisory Council (USAC) has participated in food drives to benefit Second Harvest for many years. We are moving our efforts online this year to make an even greater impact! In 2020, we donated 206 jars of peanut butter and 447 pounds of food in total. **Update 1/27/21** In response to the generosity of the Vanderbilt community, we are raising our goal for a second time to $5,000 to provide 20,000 meals to our neighbors in Middle Tennessee. We continue to be amazed at the support you’ve shown by surpassing our fundraising goals in record time! Thank you to everyone who has donated or spread the word! **Update 1/14/21** We met our original goal in less than 2 hours! We've updated our goal to raise $2,500 and provide 10,000 meals before the end of February.

USAC is comprised of staff throughout campus and represents staff members in University Central who are not in a union-eligible job. We are an advisory group to administration and staff on issues, policies, and practices that affect the university and those served by the council.

We are asking the Vanderbilt community to click the ‘Donate’ button below and give what you can!

Second Harvest is distributing nearly 40% more pounds of food per week compared to this time last year. This means Second Harvest must purchase an additional 100,000 pounds of food each week to feed our Middle Tennessee neighbors. By supporting our Virtual Food Drive, your gift will provide hope to those in need.

Second Harvest is proud to report that 96 cents of every dollar is donated directly to programming.

Together, we will fight hunger and feed hope.