Second Harvest to hold food, donation drive on 9/11 anniversary

KINGSPORT — Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee is inviting community members to give back through "9/11 Unite for Good," a special food and donation drive held as part of Hunger Action Month. The release states that just as Northeast Tennessee came together to help neighbors during Hurricane Helene in 2024, the nation came together following 9/11. The 25th anniversary of 9/11 provides an opportunity to "honor that spirit of unity by helping neighbors facing food insecurity in Northeast Tennessee." There will be several different ways residents from around the region can participate. From 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, individuals can drive by and drop off nonperishable food items or make monetary donations at Second Harvest. Some suggested donations include the following: Canned fruits and vegetables Canned meats and tuna Peanut butter Pasta and sauce Rice and beans Cereal Oatmeal Macaroni and cheese Any other shelf-stable pantry staples not listed Tours Second Harvest will also offer community tours every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. until noon for those wanting to learn more about how a food bank operates and differs from a community food pantry Tours are expected to provide a behind-the-scenes look at how Second Harvest receives, sorts, stores and distributes food to its network of partner agencies across the eight-county region of Northeast Tennessee composed of Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Washington and Unicoi Counties. "While food pantries typically distribute food directly to individuals and families, a food bank serves as a central resource, providing food and support to a network of partner organizations that help reach people throughout the community," the release states. "The tours offer an opportunity to learn more about the local hunger-relief system and see firsthand how Second Harvest helps connect resources with neighbors in need. The latest data from the 2026 "Map the Meal Gap" study shows that 98,360 individuals (or 18.7%) of this region's population were food insecure in 2024. Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee is located at 1020 Jericho Drive in Kingsport. For more information, visit netfoodbank.org/.