On Oct. 2, 2018 Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee staff members and volunteers will operate a Mobile Pantry for Blount County residents who are in need of food. Typically, Mobile Pantries are operated by a partner agency of the food bank, but this Mobile Pantry will be solely operated by Second Harvest Food Bank staff and volunteers.
The goal of Mobile Pantry is to reach the hungry in their own community, even when infrastructure, like a pantry or community kitchen, is lacking. Mobile Pantries are a mobile, temporary food pantry. Second Harvest loads a tractor-trailer with food and delivers it to a location in the desired area that can accommodate distribution, like a shopping center, school gymnasium or church parking lot.
The Second Harvest Food Bank Mobile Pantry will be hosted by Heritage High School and sponsored by United Healthcare. On Oct. 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or until all the food is gone), food will be distributed to Blount County residents who are in need of food assistance.
Rhea Ennist is an Agency Relations Coordinator at the food bank and manages the Mobile Pantry program. Ennist said, “During school breaks, many families find themselves with fewer food resources. With children being out of school on Fall Break, it means parents and caregivers must provide more meals. Second Harvest decided to act for its community and host the first Fall Break Mobile Pantry.”
Blount County Mobile Pantry:
- Who: Second Harvest Food Bank, United Healthcare and Blount County residents
- When: Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: Heritage High School, 3741 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, Tenn. 37804
- Why: To provide food assistance to Blount County students and families while they are on Fall Break
For more information about the Mobile Pantry program, contact Rhea Ennist ([email protected]). If you are interested in volunteering at the Mobile Pantry, contact Darby Arnold ([email protected]).