Food Services And Programs
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At Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee, we collect and distribute food throughout our community using a variety of programs and services. Food bank programs that provide direct service include: The Food for Kids Backpack Program, Summer Food Service Program, The Kids Café Program, The Mobile Food Bank, and the Mobile Food Pantry.
Food collection services
Food Bank
We collect, sort, store, repackage and distribute millions of pounds of food every year. Our 112,000+ square foot facility allows us to receive truckloads of food and distribute it to our network of 140 partner agencies.
Food Rescue
Every day, our Food Rescue teams collect hundreds of pounds of fresh produce, dairy, deli, meat, and bakery items from grocery stores around the area. We always welcome new commercial food businesses to partner with our Food Rescue program.
Food distribution services
Agency Partners
Second Harvest of Northeast Tennessee works with approximately 140 local agencies that provide food and meals to the hungry families in our community.
Second Harvest Programs
The Food for Kids Backpack Program®
Mobile Food Pantry
Kids Cafe®
Kids Café® enables Food Bank agencies to provide food for children and youth programs where over 55% of children attending are at or below the poverty level. This program served an average of 500 children each month.
Senior Grocery Program
Do You Require Warehouse Volunteers To Be Vaccinated
Second Harvest is committed to protecting the health and safety of our employees, their families, and the community at large. All staff are required to be fully vaccinated. We do not require but strongly recommend that food sort volunteers coming into our warehouses comply with the same requirement, since they spend at least two to three hours inside our facility.
How To Become A Volunteer
Your time is a gift to hungry kids, seniors and others who dont have enough food to eat. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania volunteers help sort, process and pack food and its a fun experience.
There are many volunteer opportunities available at Second Harvest. We work with individuals, schools, businesses and religious groups, just to name a few. Please watch our brief video below for more information on what to expect when you volunteer with Second Harvest.
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Do I Need To Register Or Can I Just Show Up For A Volunteer Shift
Every volunteer needs to register individually even if you are part of a group. If you are an individual or the person organizing a group volunteer activity, you can register by selecting a shift on our volunteer registration calendar. If you are a member of a group activity, the group organizer will send you a special link to sign up.
Food Distribution Partners And Programs

Second Harvest Heartland is in the business of distributing large amounts of donated food to a variety of organizations and programs that directly serve clients.
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Agency Partners
Second Harvest Heartland works in close partnership with nearly 1,000 agency partner programs in Minnesota and western Wisconsin that provide direct client service to people in need.
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Is There Anything Special I Should Wear Or Bring To The Warehouse Or Food Distribution
The dress code in the warehouse and at food distribution sites is casual and comfortable. Please note the following requirements:
- Comfortable, safe footwear must be worn, including sneakers, work shoes or boots. Closed toed shoes are required. Anyone wearing high heels, open toed shoes or sandals will not be allowed to volunteer.
- Long pants are highly recommended but not required.
- Dress warm in the winter and dress light in the summer.
- No necklaces or long earrings.
Leave purses, jewelry and other valuables at home or locked in your trunk. Second Harvest is not responsible for any missing personal belongings.
How Can Shfb Help
Second Harvest Food Bank is working alongside Feeding America to bring SNAP application assistance to our community. Nearly 15% of people who qualify for SNAP are not accessing the benefits because they are unsure how. SHFB is here to assist with your application process either over the phone or in-person. In doing so, we can make sure your application is properly filled out and ready for review. Please remember, it can take up to 30 days to be approved or denied.
If you have more questions or are in need of assistance with filling out your SNAP benefits application, please contact Kassi Brown at or 937.325.8715 ext. 111
OrderAhead
OrderAhead expands access to charitable food through a discreet and convenient click-and-collect grocery ordering system that reduces the physical and social barriers encountered by neighbors facing food insecurity.
Also Check: Second Harvest Food Bank Phone Number
Is There Anything Else I Need To Know
Yes. Please review the following rules before volunteering with us:
- No eating, drinking, running or smoking in the warehouse or at a distribution.
- Food and grocery items are for our clients only.
- Volunteers should remain in their assigned work areas. Report to the group leader or staff if you need to leave the area.
- Cleanup is part of our work. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Please also note that our Brennan warehouse space is particularly large, and may not be the most comfortable fit for volunteers with reduced mobility. If you need more details or would like to discuss your particular situation, please contact us at .
Donate Stocks Securities & Mutual Funds
Donations of stock can be made by utilizing our free online resource or by contacting your broker and requesting that the desired number of shares be transferred electronically to Second Harvests account.
Our online stock giving resource makes it simple to get started. You can learn more about your potential tax savings, access our Depository Trust Company information and complete the necessary paperwork online to support Second Harvest and our hunger relief efforts with a gift of stock. Learn more and access our transfer information here.
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Second Harvest Food Bank
- Community List
- Service Address4001 North 1st Street. San Jose CA 95134
Second Harvest Food Bank greatly relies upon the energy and commitment of the local community to fight hunger. Your contributions in any way will have a significant impact in providing food to the hungry in the counties Second Harvest Food Bank serves.
Website:
Restaurants & Food Service Rescue Program
We can deliver your unsold prepared and perishable food or event leftovers directly to our smaller community partners. We provide donation records for your tax purposes.
Our current restaurant partners include Disneyland and Orange County School Districts.
For more information, please contact us at .
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How Does Snap Work
SNAP provides timely, targeted, and temporary benefits to people in need so that Americans have access to nutritious food. SNAP responds quickly to changes in our population, growing in response to increases in poverty and unemployment, and shrinking as the need is met and reduced. SNAP is administered by the states, which have considerable discretion to adapt the program to best meet the needs of their residents.
What Is The Minimum Age To Volunteer

The minimum age is 12, and all volunteers under the age of 18 must have a signed electronic permission slip on file at least 48 hours before volunteering. In addition, there are chaperone requirements for youths ages 12 to 15 . Individual 16 and 17 year olds can volunteer without a chaperone but groups of 16 and 17 year olds do require chaperones . Some volunteer opportunities have other age requirements.
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Why Is Snap Important
SNAP provides families with their basic nutritional needs to get them through temporary hard times. It helps people get back on their feet and on the road to a better life in 2015, SNAP lifted 4.6 million Americans above the poverty line, including 2 million children and 366,000 seniors. Moreover, SNAP helps to ensure that children are given a fair chance at healthy adulthood, that seniors age with dignity and that family can care for themselves. SNAP is absolutely critical to making sure no one in America goes hungry.
On top of that, SNAP supports Americas economy and creates jobs. Research from Moodys Analytics suggests that for every dollar spent by SNAP, 1.7 dollars are added to the economy. A 2010 study by the USDA found that for every $1 billion of added SNAP funding, between 8,900 and 17,000 jobs were created. By contrast, another study found that for every $1 billion in cuts, 11,437 jobs would be destroyed.
Second Harvest Celebrates 50th Anniversary With Party To Honor Retiring Ceo
Not only is the food bank observing its half-century mark this month, but its also poised to start a new era, as longtime leader Willy Elliott-McCrea gets ready to retire and new CEO Erica Padilla-Chavez comes on board.
Both Elliott-McCrea and Padilla-Chavez will be feted at a 50th anniversary party for Second Harvest, with a celebration of service for Elliott-McCrea as well as an opportunity to meet Padilla-Chavez. An official community meet-and-greet for Padilla-Chavez is planned for August.
Tickets are now available for the 50th anniversary reception and dinner to be held July 21 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville. On the same day, an open house will be held at the Second Harvest facility in Watsonville with tours, cooking demos and other activities advance registration is required.
Padilla-Chavez, currently CEO of health nonprofit Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, will officially join Second Harvest on July 18. Her tenure overlaps Elliott-McCreas until his official retirement at the end of the month. Padilla-Chavez, a Watsonville native with more than two decades of experience in the health and human services field, was selected after a nationwide search.
Padilla-Chavez will be carrying on a truly impressive legacy at Second Harvest. Founded in 1972, it was the first food bank in California and only the second in the nation.
Elliot-McCrea in front of the Food Corps 1st office
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What Volunteer Opportunities Are Available At Second Harvest
We have a number of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups, whether you want to volunteer once a year or on a regular basis.
If youre looking to sort food at one of our warehouses or distribute food at one of our community sites, check out our volunteer registration calendar for specific dates and times, and to register for an upcoming shift. All volunteers must register in advance.
Please also check our page on Volunteer Match for opportunities. We recruit from Volunteer Match for a variety of front desk and light administrative coverage. Our partner agencies also need volunteers. Learn more about available opportunities.
Can I Sort Food In The Warehouse If Im Not Part Of A Group
Yes! Check out our volunteer registration calendar to find a day and time that work for you and ask each team member to sign up individually. Good times at our Cypress Center in North San Jose for individuals are the three-hour shifts weekday mornings starting at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
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What If The Shift I Want Is Already Full
We are fortunate to have strong community support, but it means the shift you want may already be full. The highest demand for volunteering is during the holidays, but your help is needed all year long. If you find the volunteer shifts you want are filled already, please consider joining us after the holidays. In January, we need help sorting the food we collect during the holidays. Summer is a good time because half of what we distribute is fresh produce, and the harvests come in fast during those months.
Check out our list of volunteer opportunities for individuals. You can also check out volunteer opportunities at our partner agencies.
Heres How The App Works
Get started in a few simple steps:
- Register online or download the mobile app to create your food business or non-profit account
- Businesses log in and create a donation posting
- Nearby non-profits who are on the app are notified about the available donations. They view the details and can claim the donation if theyre interested
- The claiming non-profit picks up the food from the business at the agreed time
Pounds of greenhouse gases averted
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Can I Distribute Food In The Community If Im Not Part Of A Group
Yes! Generally, our food distribution events are completely volunteer-run. Refer to our volunteer registration calendar to register for an upcoming shift. We also need individuals who are able to commit to volunteering on a regular basis. To see types of volunteer roles we need at food distribution events, check here.
Emergency Food Box Delivery Program

Neighbors who are disabled, medically fragile, lack transportation, or over 60 are eligible for our Emergency Food Box Delivery Program.
To schedule a pickup or delivery, please contact the Second Harvest Food Bank Response Center at 937-325-8715 ext. 103. This is a dedicated phone line available from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday.
Due to high call volumes, we may not be able to immediately answer your call. If that should happen, please leave a message with your name, phone number, and address. We will make every effort to return your call by the end of the business day.
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Become A Volunteer Captain
- Be an established volunteer with SHFB and have at least 100 volunteer hours
- Have helped out in all areas: sorting, production, etc.
- Attend a Food For Thought tour. Sign up at www.FeedHopeNow.org.
- Be available at least once a week and be at least 18 years old
- Be flexible and help out in the areas that are most needed
- Be able to provide directions to our volunteers
- Be able to utilize a manual pallet jack
- Have a desire to help make projects run smoothly and effectively all while the volunteers are enjoying themselves
Please note:
Second Harvest Food Bank Hosts Usda Representative
The visit by Joaquin Altoro, rural housing services administrator for the USDA, came after Second Harvest received a grant of more than $200,000 over three years from the USDA this spring.
Altoro said the grant is important to help keep people fed in the region.
“It is a grant that is working with Second Harvest, a food bank that is providing food not only to St. Joseph but to a humongous region,” Altoro said. “Due to COVID, due to the changing demographics in rural America, the need for healthy, fresh and immediate food is growing.”
Altoro said Second Harvest has used the grant to build on its capacity to do more.
“That’s what they did when they created mobile ,” Altoro said. “They were able to go to the people in rural communities where the drive is not just five minutes up the block, the drive can be a half an hour to 45 minutes.”
The grant process is a significant amount of work Altoro said.
“We have our local representatives, our state office and local staff that does an amazing job at having those relationships in the beginning and providing some of the technical assistance to prepare the application and then eventually submit it in,” Altoro said. “Everything is weighed against the need and how organized the organization is to be able to get that grant out and so it’s a lot of work.”
Second Harvest operates on a $4 million budget, and all funding is important, Fagerstone said.
Fagerstone said having the representatives from USDA in the building is always a pleasure.
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We Couldnt Accomplish All That We Have Without Volunteers
Second Harvest is grateful for every volunteer who lends their support and shares our vision of No Waste. No Hunger. We recognize volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their commitment and service to Second Harvest.
Outstanding Achievement Awards
Outstanding Achievement Awards recognize the dedication of an individual or group who go above and beyond in their volunteer role, demonstrate commitment, and support the work of Second Harvest.
Past recipients: Gaurav Bansal, Josh Jensen, Reanna Maharaj, Kathryn Ellis, Karen Hardy, Ken Nakamura, Pamela Neblett, Yan Moore, Deborah Mitchell, Victoria Genge-Narain, Gabrielle Cotton, Judy Nusinowitz, David Kopel, Susan Wetmore, Amanda Chung, Chiara Switzer, June MacDonald, Wendy Job, Ravi Nagraj, Antonette Wright, Maria Park, Pina Di Leo, William Leung, Elliot Steele, Alexander Radovac.
Corporate Volunteerism Award
This annual award recognizes a corporation or business partner that has provided exceptional and ongoing volunteer service to Second Harvest. They have embraced our mission and become a pillar of support to our organization.
Past recipients: Weston Foods, TD Bank
Mike Kic Spirit Award
Past recipients: Tamara Ramsey, Hyame Fadel-Jardine, Emily MacLellan, Andrew Patton, Mike Kic
The Ian Lawson Van Toch Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award
Past recipients: Voice Integrative School, Carter Ward, The Giles School, Sami Mendes, Arrabon House, Oliver Segal, Jake Grevier, Sarah Siddiqi
Rycars Community Service Day: Second Harvest Food Bank
RYCARS Community Service Day: Team RYCARS volunteer days have officially returned! Our crew had the opportunity to volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank in the Food Sorting and Packing division. Second Harvest provides food and support to over 700 community partners across 23 parishes. Team RYCARS volunteers sorted through and repacked over 2,000 pounds of sweet potatoes to be distributed throughout Southeast Louisiana. #RYCARScares #teamRYCARS #GoodWorks
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I Need Hours For School Can I Volunteer At Second Harvest
You can satisfy your school-service requirement while helping to end hunger in our community. We have volunteer opportunities sorting food in our warehouse and distributing food in the community that are very rewarding experiences for students. If you want to sort food or distribute food at one of our community sites, check out our volunteer registration calendar for specific dates and times, and to register for an upcoming shift. All volunteers must register in advance.
If any of our other volunteer opportunities interest you, please ask ahead of time if it counts for school hours. Please note that we do not sign third-party forms, including school-service forms. You can print out a volunteer timecard and bring it every time you volunteer. See our volunteer timekeeping policy for more information.