hopeFeeding

To help feed a family of 8, Johnny Wood had to start working in the local marble quarry when he was only 14. He’s worked hard all his life until he was severely injured working for a tree trimming company. Unfortunately, Johnny was forced to stop working and scrape by on disability. “I draw a little check and by the time I pay my bills, I ain’t got nothing left,” he admits. Johnny is faithful about paying his bills first, but with an income of just over $700 a month, feeding himself and his son is almost impossible.

That’s why Johnny has been getting much needed help from Corryton Hospitality Food Pantry. Twice a month he’s able to pick up nutritious food for support when his cabinets are nearly empty. When asked if he misses any meals, Johnny says, “Not really. I’ll find me something, an egg or something.” We all know, one egg is not enough of a meal for a grown man, but he shrugs his shoulders and explains, “I don’t have a whole lot, but I manage when I get hungry.”

What makes it worse is when seniors forget to go get food from their local pantry. Johnny said, “I haven’t been down here for about 4 months. I miss it, because I forget it.” If someone hadn’t called to remind him to go to the food pantry today, he would have gone for another two weeks without help. And when that happens, Johnny says friends will give him their leftovers – just so he can survive.

Too many seniors in East Tennessee, like Johnny, struggle every month with

hunger. But thanks to you, they have access to plenty of food that is distributed through our area partners. Holding the food he picked up at Corryton Pantry, Johnny explains, “This food here helps a lot. I appreciate it and thank God for the people who give to Second Harvest.” Thank you for making a difference in the lives of so many seniors!

I draw a little check and

by the time I pay my bills, I ain’t got

nothing left.-JOHNNY

Facing Hunger, Finding Hope

Johnny Wood started working at 14 in the marble quarry to support his family

WINTER 2018

Trying to Survive on Half Her IncomeBetty was happily married to her husband for 40 years – a milestone few marriages achieve in a lifetime. Then suddenly he passed away. When asked how that changed her life, Betty said, “It cut my income in half or more than half.”

This happens every day among seniors. The surviving spouse is left to live alone on one Social Security check instead of the two they had depended on. Unfortunately, most of the same expenses remain, which puts a heavy financial strain on the survivor. Until her husband’s death, Betty never had to worry much about finances or lack of food in her house. That’s all changed and now she depends on food she can get from one of our partner agencies, Corryton Hospitality Food Pantry. She said, “Things are tight at home.” Something she’s never had to admit to before.

But instead of little food in the kitchen, Betty says, “By coming over here, my cabinets are full.” Because of friends like you, struggling seniors like Betty don’t have to face days of hunger. Your continued support of Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee keeps a smile on Betty’s face and to you, she says, “Thank you very much and God bless you.”

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Hunger among seniors is a huge problem in East Tennessee for several reasons. For many, they saved for retirement and had just enough to enjoy the golden years of their lives. Then their children got caught in the opioid epidemic, and suddenly Grandma and Grandpa became responsible for their grandchildren. They had not planned on, nor had the resources to raise more children in their home. Now they struggle just to pay the bills, let alone feed everyone. Grandparents also tend to give up meals so their grand kids can eat.

Some seniors get so used to going without food that they don’t realize they’re hungry. Others simply forget to eat or are not equipped to prepare their own meals adequately. For seniors whose health is borderline, missing meals can become critical in just a matter of days.

The cost of medical care is keeps rising and forcing seniors who are struggling financially to choose between buying food or medicine. Not getting their prescriptions puts them at a great risk, but eating the wrong foods can be just as dangerous. Diseases like diabetes require a strict diet that must be monitored on a daily basis.

Many seniors simply can’t drive anymore and have difficulty getting transportation to places where they can get enough food on a regular basis.

This would be a sad story if it were not for faithful friends who partner with us throughout the year. And because of your support, we are able to reach seniors in a number of ways, including:

• Our agency partner program that gets groceries to local food pantries where it’s needed most – in cities, towns and deep rural areas.

• We have a large vegetable garden at our facility. The food from the garden is taken to an agency that serves senior citizens, the Blount County Office on Aging.

• Our collaboration with SCHAS - Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service. Food is provided when in-home caregivers find that a homebound senior does not have enough food in the house.

• Agency programs that provide hot meals to seniors Monday through Friday and groceries to carry them through the weekends.

• The newest pilot program is called Senior Meal Connect. It is starting in Campbell County.

Thanks to you, thousands of seniors in our area no longer face the perils of hunger. But, as you can see, we have much more to do to reach all those who are still struggling to get enough food each day. Thank you for your support, and please continue so we can reach more seniors in East Tennessee.

Sincerely,

Elaine Streno Executive Director

Betty Tharp’s life changed when she lost

her husband.

Words of Hope

Special Thanks for your ongoing support:

3 | Feeding hope

When the local food pantry had to shut down in Crab Orchard, the small community was crushed. But as the saying goes: When one door closes, another opens. Thanks to the loving heart and gut determination of Mary Nelson, a new food pantry was started.

“It devastated me,” Mary said, “because I knew how many people we were helping. So, I went out and found a building.” Nine months later Crab Orchard Care Center opened its doors. To meet the needs of folks in the area, Mary says, “We give out food weekly. We also have the backpack program where we help children with food for the weekends and during the summer.”

But the people who struggle with food insecurity most are seniors. “There’s a lot of disabilities, a lot of elderly here. That’s about it, elderly and disabled people,” said Mary. With a team of 15 volunteers, Mary is able to reach people who might otherwise be missed and forgotten. People who are poor and in ill health. “There are some people here that have to choose whether they are going to eat or pay their bills. We help them with their food so they can pay their bills,” Mary says. She figures they serve 60 to 80 households a week.

Agencies like Crab Orchard Care Center play a huge role in helping us reach people who urgently need food. They’re on the frontline working with folks every week, sometimes in very remote areas. It’s truly a partnership of supporting each other. “If it weren’t for Second Harvest, we wouldn’t be able to purchase a lot of the food that we get, because we get it at such discounted prices. We just couldn’t do it,” Mary explains.

Asked why she is so dedicated to the food pantry, Mary says, “I’m hoping I’m making a difference in these people’s lives. And I do it because I enjoy it. I enjoy helping people. It’s what God wants us to do – help our neighbor. What a better way?”

Thanks to your support, Second Harvest and over 550 agency partners are winning the fight against hunger in cities, towns and deeply remote communities. Because you care, you’re helping to change thousands of lives in East Tennessee.

Saving the Food Pantry

Mary Nelson, Executive Director of Crab Orchard Care Center

Some people here have to choose whether they are going to eat or pay their bills. -MARY

Thank you to UnitedHealthcare Community Plan for a grant supporting Mobile Pantry for 2018.

Second Harvest Food Bank would like to extend special thanks to the local media, sponsors and all those who donated to make our Double Your Donation Day telethon a tremendous success. DYD brought in a total of $635,000 this year, which will provide more than 1.9 million meals for food insecure people in East Tennessee. We are truly humbled! Thank you!

Special thanks to the Red Nose Day Fund for a $10,000 grant that will help us open our third School Pantry site.

Senior citizens—those over the age of 60—are particularly at risk for food insecurity, and the numbers demand our attention and action.

+ More than 5 million senior citizens age 60 and older struggle with hunger.

+ In 2016, 9% of seniors (4.6 million older adults age 65 and older) lived below the poverty line. + 60% of older adult households have to choose between paying for food or utilities. + 49% of seniors must choose between groceries and housing. + 63% of seniors are forced to decide between food and medical care. + One-third of food insecure seniors have a disability. + Nearly 1 in 5 seniors living with grandchildren are food insecure. + Senior citizens are the

“fastest-growing food insecure population” in the United States. + As the population gets older, the number of food insecure seniors will only increase.

April will be Senior Hunger Awareness Month!  Visit secondharvestetn.org/senior to donate or find out more information on Second Harvest’s senior programs.

www.secondharvestetn.orgSecond Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee

136 Harvest LaneMaryville, TN 37801T: (865) 521-0000F: (865) 243-8241

info@secondharvestetn.org

Support Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennesseeand you support over 500 local non-profits and programs.

501(c)3 TAX ID # 58-1450139

4 | Feeding hope 15-XSHET-0000-N

If you were forced to retire at age 74, what would you do? Paul Rohe tried to relax and take it easy, but couldn’t handle the pressures of “just sitting at home.” So, he approached Hamblen Central Services to see if they could use his help as a volunteer. Barbara Simmons, Executive Director, explains, “That was 17 years ago, and I don’t think he’s ever missed a day except when he’d go on vacation with his family. Besides that, he’s here every day.”

When asked why he keeps coming back as the Food Warehouse Manager, Paul says, “Oh, it’s the fun of being with people, working with people. It’s just tremendous.” He organizes the food that comes in, dividing USDA from non-USDA food. He keeps a running list of all the warehouse food items so everyone knows exactly what food is available for distribution.

One of Paul’s key responsibilities is to check the dates on food items to keep dated groceries from being eaten. “You’d be surprised at the amount of stuff I threw away today that was out of date. I couldn’t believe all this stuff was donated to us, but there were very few cans that I could salvage,” Paul said.

Paul’s work ethic and strictness comes from 24 years as a Naval officer before working 50 years for a local manufacturer. Barbara says, “It keeps him prompt. He’s on time. He has a huge work ethic. He works hard back there, I mean, you could tell his area is spotless.”

Like Paul, seniors play a big part in the success of fighting hunger by volunteering for us or our partner agencies. At Second Harvest, we have about 6,000 volunteers each year, and many of those are seniors. They bring incredible value to any organization, and we’re especially grateful for the seniors who so willingly give of their time, and money, to ensure people in East Tennessee don’t have to worry about food insecurity. Thank you; seniors you’re the secret to our success!

91 and Volunteering Every Day

The Hidden Hungry

Oh, it’s the fun of being with people, working

with people. It’s just tremendous.

-PAUL

Paul Rohe and Barbara Simmons, Executive Director