Donations critical to Thanksgiving success at Second Harvest Food Bank

Donations critical to Thanksgiving success at Second Harvest Food Bank

By JAMIE LYNN DROHAN
6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- With Thanksgiving just a week away, it's crunch time for many non-profit organizations.

The growing demand and cost for food has left Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee hungry for help.

Each month, Second Harvest fills an average of 155 requests for assistance.

With demand at an all time high, the food bank needs help more than ever.

"We are seeing such an increase in demand that it is affecting our whole 18 county service area," says Second Harvest Executive Director Elaine Streno.

"So right now, we are in need of funding to buy food so the agencies that are feeding the needy back at their sites can come here and get what they can," Streno explains.

Second Harvest relies heavily on community manpower to operate. More than 3,500 people will volunteer this year, raising money, running food drives and much more.

"We are worried that we're not going to have enough to help people with their Thanksgiving or Christmas baskets so funding is really critical for us right now," Streno says.

Thanksgiving dinner food is quite expensive, but Second Harvest is working hard to cover each item.

Food requests are up by 40 percent in the last month alone.

If you'd like to donate time or money to the food bank, click here. Volunteers are welcome any day. However, Second Harvest will be closed on Thanksgiving.