After the Radiothon: Where Northeast Tennessee Neighbors Can Find Food Help

By SmashMeals Editorial — 2026-11-07 — Prepared Food Trends

Kingsport, Tennessee | November 7, 2026. The November 5 Project Thanksgiving radiothon was one date on the calendar. For someone trying to put dinner on the table, the next date that matters is when a nearby pantry can help.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee and WCQR announced their 18th annual Project Thanksgiving campaign in late October. The food bank set a goal of 8,000 Thanksgiving meal boxes across its eight county service area. That is the campaign goal. The organizers’ announcement and November 5 radiothon listing do not report how many boxes were distributed.

In the announcement, Second Harvest Executive Director Rhonda Chafin thanked “the volunteers who eagerly pack the holiday boxes for distribution.” The Bristol Chamber’s November 7 listing scheduled a Thanksgiving box packing event for regional young professionals at the Kingsport food bank. The listing asks participants to register. It does not list a public pickup or promise a space for walk-ins.

If you need groceries, start with the pantry finder

Open Second Harvest’s pantry finder and look for a site you can reach. The food bank lists Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties in Northeast Tennessee. If you’re helping someone else, start with their location and ask how they can get there before sending a link.

Call the pantry before making a trip. Three questions can save a second journey:

1. When can I come? Ask for the next confirmed distribution and whether you need an appointment.
2. What should I bring? Ask about any paperwork, how pickup works and what to do if transportation is difficult.
3. How do holiday boxes work? Ask whether there is a separate sign-up or pickup. If your household has a dietary need or limited cooking equipment, ask what staff can confirm about available options before making plans around a box.

If you need groceries before the holiday, say so. The food bank’s Get Help page lists emergency food assistance separately from other resources. A holiday campaign and an ordinary pantry visit may have different arrangements.

If you’d like to help, ask what needs doing next

Check the food bank’s volunteer page for ways to help, including sorting and packing groceries. Ask what shifts need people and read the volunteer instructions before arriving. If you can’t volunteer, sharing the pantry finder privately with someone who wants it is useful too.

For your own weekly dinner planning, see how SmashMeals ordering works and visit SmashMeals to choose a meal for a busy evening. The food assistance links above go directly to Second Harvest and require no SmashMeals purchase.

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