27-05-2025
Second Harvest continues to feel federal cuts impact ahead of summer months
BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — It has been two months since federal cuts were announced, and Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee continues to be impacted.
'In March we received 301,122 pounds of USDA product, and then in April we only received 198,171 pounds of product which was a decrease of 102,951 pounds of food from USDA,' said Kendra Lindsay with Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.
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The food bank has several programs including a mobile food pantry that travels across different East Tennessee counties. The mobile pantry uses USDA products.
'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,' Lindsay said. 'We are still going out to our mobile distributions. We're still giving out food. 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.'
For instance, on Tuesday, the mobile pantry was in Cocke County. Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis estimates that 600 families were served.
'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 said.
As school is out, some are concerned the federal cuts could impact the Food for Kids program. Lindsay tells 6 News it will not be impacted.
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'We do not use USDA products for our Summer Food for Kids program. Our program will be working as usual,' Lindsay said.
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee is taking in donations.
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