BCBS of Tennessee announces donation of $3.25M to food banks

The Bluecross Blueshield of Tennessee Foundation is donating $3.25 million to multiple food banks across the state as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The gift will help Tennessee food banks meet the needs of the communities affected by the coronavirus, the business released in a statement Wednesday. Food banks often purchase supplies at a lower cost than people can, stretching to provide as many as four meals for each dollar they receive in cash donations.

"Every day, families count on local food banks for help — and that's especially true now,” said JD Hickey, M.D., chairman of the Bluecross Foundation. “Tennesseans can get through these challenging times by coming together, and we're expanding our support for food banks statewide as another way to bring peace of mind to our neighbors.”

The Bluecross Foundation will distribute food relief funds to the following organizations:

❚ $750,000 to Second Harvest Food

Bank (Nashville)

❚ $750,000 to Mid-south Food Bank (Memphis)

❚ $500,000 to Chattanooga Area Food Bank

❚ $500,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee (Knoxville)

❚ $500,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee (Tri-cities)

❚ $250,000 to Regional Inter-faith Association (Jackson)

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the demand for food assistance is expected to increase with school closures and time away from work.

Community members who want to help can find and donate to their local food bank by visiting Feedingamerica.org

For more on how Bluecross is responding to COVID-19, visit Bcbstupdates.com.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

ERIC PARSONS/THE TENNESSEAN Second Harvest Food Bank warehouse worker Vincent Perry sweeps the floors of the food bank’s overcrowded facility March 8 in Nashville. The organization will receive a $750,000 donation in food relief funds from the Bluecross Blueshield of Tennessee Foundation.