Generous Helpings returns May 10

Annual event to benefit Second Harvest to feature three-course dinners by local restaurants.

Kroger, dedicated to ‘Zero Hunger Zero Waste,’ returns as presenting sponsor

April 11, 2021 – Generous Helpings, the popular annual food & beverage event and fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, will take place Tuesday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m.

This year’s event will consist of multiple three-course dinners taking place simultaneously at restaurants throughout Nashville.

Attendees will choose one of five locally owned restaurants as their destination for the evening. The chefs at each restaurant will create and serve a three-course meal as diners gather in intimate settings. Participants for this year’s Generous Helpings include: Tom Eckert, Chaatable; Deb Paquette and Jess Lambert, Etch; Sean Brock, Joyland; Chris Gass, Hathorne; and Nina Singto, Thai Esane.

Tickets go on sale to the public on April 14S, available at the Second Harvest website. Tickets, which include the three-course meal, a welcome cocktail, and select wines, are $125 per person and benefit both Second Harvest and the partner restaurants.

Proceeds from Generous Helpings will benefit Second Harvest’s grocery rescue program, which works to reduce both hunger and food waste by rescuing, sorting, and distributing frozen meat, dairy, produce and dry groceries from more than 280 grocery stores and food donors. Last year, Second Harvest distributed 48.5 million pounds of food including seven million pounds that were rescued through this program.

“Last year we made some changes to the structure of Generous Helpings, and the response was so positive that we decided to continue with these dinners happening simultaneously across the city,” said Nancy Keil, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN. “We’re bringing Second Harvest supporters to the tables of an incredible lineup of local restaurants, and in turn raising money to get food on the tables of the food insecure members of our community.”

Generous Helpings 2022 is presented by Kroger and their Zero Hunger Zero Waste initiative.

“We are excited to once again be the presenting sponsor of Generous Helpings,” said Melissa Eads, corporate affairs manager for the Kroger Nashville division. “We have partnered with Second Harvest for 40 years, and so appreciate the work they do to address food insecurity in our communities.  Through our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Plan we are committed to ending hunger and supporting great organizations like Second Harvest is certainly an integral part of this initiative.”

Restaurant sponsors include Lumina Foods, Zwanenberg Food Group/Vietti Food Group and Sysco; and Foodie Sponsors include Vanderbilt University and Nissan. The beverage partner for Generous Helpings is Ajax Turner Co. Inc. Event committee members for Generous Helpings are Patricia Marzella, Beth Sachan, and Amanda Virgillito.

About Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee:

For more than 40 years, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee has followed its mission of feeding hungry people and finding innovative ways to solve hunger issues in our communities. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Second Harvest distributes food and other products to approximately 450 nonprofit partner agencies in 46 counties in Middle and West Tennessee. Our partners include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, childcare facilities, senior centers, group homes, and youth enrichment programs. For more information about Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, its mission and programs, please visit secondharvestmidtn.org.

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