The thread that connects one of out of six people in Warren County is mostly invisible. But it’s tough and very hard to break.
The tie that binds 17% of county’s population is hunger and food insecurity. Using government and U.S. Census data, the national charity Feeding America estimates 6,960 local citizens of all ages in Warren County were not getting enough to eat in 2020, the latest year complete figures are available.
Going hungry or having insufficient food hits especially hard at children and seniors. Choosing between adequate food and life-saving medicine is a brutal decision for many older people, while young children have no way of fending for themselves.
“Sometimes adults are really struggling” to put a decent meal on the table for their kids, Courtney Blaise told The Rotary Club of McMinnville on Thursday. Blaise is director of community engagement for the charity Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee headquartered in Nashville.
Addressing a hushed audience of Rotarians and guests, Blaise related a recent experience at a free food distribution in Tullahoma.
“The senior lady evidently had multiple physical challenges but she was laughing and joking and having a good time,” the visiting speaker recalled. “She was using a walker so I was following after her and carrying her food box.”
Then abruptly the laughter ceased and tears welled up in the woman’s eyes.
“I thought maybe she injured her foot or something. I asked what was the matter?” Blaise said, noting the food recipient was raising her four granddaughters after their mother died.
“The kids begged me to bring them some strawberries,” Blaise quoted her as explaining. “I looked in the crate and there was one quart of strawberries left. That box of strawberries was the answer to her prayers.”
The woman was crying for joy.
The Second Harvest-supplied pop-up pantry in Tullahoma is representative of hundreds of free food distributions in Tennessee every year. On average, Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee furnishes almost 1 million pounds of food a week through more than 260 mobile pantries and some 450 partner organizations, four of which are located in Warren County.
The vast majority of the food products — including packaged staples and fresh vegetables and fruit — are rescued as donations from 280 grocery stores. These are goods that are approaching their “best by” or “use by” date but are safe for human consumption.
Individuals can support the Second Harvest work through donations, either online or by check. Detailed financial reports and program description may be found at www.secondharvestmidtn.org. The charity also welcomes volunteer workers who can help with the inspection and sorting chores.
Blaise is an interview guest on McMinnville Public Radio 91.3-WCPI. The half-hour conversation airs Tuesday at 5 p.m., Wednesday at 5 a.m., Thursday at 1 p.m., and Friday at 1 a.m.