A team of TCE staff members exercised the Chancellor’s volunteer-opportunities initiative to serve at Second Harvest Food Bank in Maryville on Friday, December 2. Organized by the college’s Staff Advisory Council (TSAC), participants included TSAC members Rachel Duncan, Marie Fox, Amanda Middleton, Cheryl Huskey, Charlotte Holland, and Wanda Turpin along with Tonya Shortt, Brian Shupe, Keely Algya, Dori Miller, Melanie Kelley, and Anna Livesay.

Staff members split into two groups. The first group bagged around 600 pounds of oatmeal for distribution to families in the area. The other group handwrote personalized thank-you notes to area sponsors.

“We learned how Second Harvest serves not just families in the Knoxville area, but in many counties across East Tennessee,” said Duncan. “Second Harvest supports families through local food banks as well as backpack programs in schools within the region.”

The organization relies on donations from individuals, grocery stores, restaurants, and wholesale distributors in addition to volunteer groups like this TCE team.

“Volunteering was easy—there was no lengthy sign-up process or background check to do in order to participate, and requesting our volunteer time leave was very easy to do in Iris as well,” said Duncan. “We enjoyed spending the afternoon with folks from other parts of TCE and encourage all TCE members to find a place to volunteer.”

Members of the college’s advising staff will participate in another Second Harvest volunteer day on December 16. Spots are still available to join them. For more information about this volunteer opportunity, contact Rachel Duncan.