Nashville-based Second Harvest Middle Tennessee prepared to take over the Tennessee Food Assistance Program from UCHRA.
Vice President of Community Impact Tracey Alderdice said the food bank has been working with the state and partner agencies on how to best serve each community. Alderdice said many people who have previously received commodities might have done so through Second Harvest’s partner agencies.
“I think this is probably also an opportunity for individuals who weren’t aware of the TFAP commodities and you know, about that program and how they might qualify, to learn more about it,” Alderdice said. “Or perhaps begin receiving that assistance that they may need within their family.”
Alderdice said Second Harvest’s goal is to be as accessible to as many people as possible, even in rural counties. Alderdice said there are currently partners in almost every community.
Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee will provide food for 11 Upper Cumberland counties. Cumberland and Fentress Counties will get their commodities through Second Harvest East Tennessee, and Van Buren County will be serviced by a Chattanooga-area food bank.
Alderdice said there have been little to no concerns about the transition so far, but the change is happening fast. Alderdice said this has been an adjustment as Second Harvest has had to quickly form new partnerships in communities they did not serve previously.
“We are identifying partners who will be trained to distribute TFAP,” Alderdice said. “Or we as a food bank will be bringing our truck and staff will be doing those distributions.”
Alderdice said Second Harvest will primarily rely on partners agencies to handle distributions. If Second Harvest is doing a distribution itself, it is because the food bank is still building the relationship with a potential partner. In other cases, Second Harvest may assist new partners who are not yet ready to distribute commodities.
“I can’t promise that everything will look the same as it did with the [HRA] distributions, but everyone’s goal has been and will continue to be to make these commodities accessible and available to individuals who qualify and who need the food assistance,” Alderdice said.
Alderdice said she would like people to be aware of food pantries in each community who may offer assistance beyond the commodity program.
The transition becomes official on October 1.