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, 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.

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 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.