Empowerment Services

Get connected with further resources

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee’s Empowerment Services are resources intended to empower our neighbors and provide additional support beyond what our other Food Access programs cover.

1.

What is SNAP?

Formerly referred to as “food stamps,” SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is a federal program that provides recipients with monthly funds to cover the cost of food. People using SNAP receive funds through a benefits card, similar to a debit card, and are able to use this card to purchase groceries. The amount covered each month depends on income and family size. 74% of SNAP recipients live in a household in which someone earns income from a job and over half of SNAP recipients are children.

2.

Our SNAP resources

Second Harvest offers free and confidential application assistance for SNAP. Our Empowerment Services Coordinator explains benefits, provides pre-screening to people who may qualify and helps people fill out the application. Contact us at [email protected], or call 865-243-8218 for more information.

3.

What is Path of Hope?

In a continued effort to serve our neighbors, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee and Community Food Connection of Blount County have launched a program designed to assist you in accomplishing goals you have set for you and your family. Path of Hope will help by providing guidance to obtain basic needs and help you lead a life of self-sufficiency.

4.

Path of Hope program structure

What we do for you:

Offer personal shopping appointments within Community Food Connection
Offer the majority of your basic food needs during your time in the program
Offer connections to community resources for education, financing, legal assistance, nutrition, cooking classes, and much more!

What you do for you:

Agree to meet with a life coach twice a month
Set personal goals for yourself and your family
Learn how to utilize other community resources

5.

What is Harvest to Home?

In partnership with local medical institutions, Second Harvest is distributing home-care food boxes. Healthcare professionals at partner organizations like the University of Tennessee Medical Center and Cherokee Health help identify food-insecure patients. Second Harvest then provides those individuals with food boxes to take home in the hopes that healing can continue to be their first priority.

6.

Get in touch

If you are interested in participating in Path of Hope or have any additional questions about these services, please contact our Empowerment Services Coordinator, Laura.