Nashville – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture today announced the allocation of more than $572,000 to help five area food banks with the cost of providing food to the needy. The funds were provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“Food banks can be a real a lifeline to some of our state’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “These Recovery Act funds will help put food on the table for Tennesseans in need.”
“At a time when more and more people are turning to food banks for help, I am pleased that Second Harvest Nashville will receive these funds to help continue providing necessary services to our community,” said U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper of Nashville.
The federal funds are to help reimburse agencies for costs incurred in distributing food to the needy during the previous fiscal year. Allocations are based on the most recent U.S. Census Bureau poverty estimates for counties in each food bank’s service area. Food banks sharing in the funding include:
- Chattanooga Area Food Bank – $55,005
- Mid-South Food Bank, Memphis – $150,118
- Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, Knoxville – $111,729
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Nashville – $205,122
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee, Washington Co. – $50,994
“Local food banks have seen the demand for their services increase due to the current economic situation. We’re glad these Recovery Act funds will be able to help cover some of the cost of providing food assistance to those who really need it in communities across Tennessee,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens.
State Agriculture officials expect a similar allocation of ARRA funds for the current federal fiscal year, which began Oct. 1. Those funds will be used to assist community action agencies, which also distribute food to the needy in communities across Tennessee.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture administers emergency food assistance in the state and distributes USDA commodities for the National School Lunch Program to Tennessee schools. Last year, TDA distributed more than 43 million pounds of food valued at $43 million to schools, childcare institutions and non-profit charities.
For more information on TDA, visit www.TN.gov/agriculture. For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, visit www.tnrecovery.gov.
