BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — Nearly two months after federal cuts to food assistance programs were announced, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee continues to feel the effects. The reduction has led to a significant decrease in the amount of USDA food products the organization receives, impacting its ability to serve the community.
In March, the food bank received 301,122 pounds of USDA products. However, in April, this amount dropped to 198,171 pounds—a decline of more than 100,000 pounds.
Kendra Lindsay, a representative of Second Harvest Food Bank, explained the challenges the organization faces amid the cuts. “We’ve limited a little bit, and we have adapted a little bit. We are trying to make sure all of the agencies have access to the product,” she said.
Despite the reduction, the food bank’s mobile pantry program remains active, traveling across various East Tennessee counties to distribute food. On Tuesday, the mobile pantry served approximately 600 families in Cocke County alone, according to Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis.
“We are still going out to our mobile distributions. We’re still giving out food,” Lindsay said. “We’re currently working on different ways to find funding to bring in more food to help those agencies that may be struggling budget-wise.”
As schools have let out for the summer, some community members have expressed concern about potential impacts on the Food for Kids program. Lindsay reassured the public that this program would not be affected by the recent federal cuts.
“We are doing our best, and we are going to work as hard as we can for our agency partners to make sure they can get the needs they have to meet their neighbors’ needs,” Lindsay added.
The ongoing efforts by Second Harvest Food Bank underscore the critical role food assistance programs play in supporting vulnerable families across East Tennessee.
