Four Oak Ridge organizations partner to fight hunger in East Tennessee. Pictured left-to-right are Rich Tighe, president and CEO of Consolidated Nuclear Security at Y-12; Stephen Streiffer, director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Ken Rueter, president and CEO of United Cleanup Oak Ridge; and Meghan Millwood, president and CEO of Oak Ridge Associated Universities.
ORAU is proud to partner with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Y-12 National Security Complex, and United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR) in support of the Secret City Harvest of Hope campaign. This two-week food drive, running from Sept. 8 – 19, 2025, will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee and help combat hunger in our region.
Hunger is a pressing issue in East Tennessee, where Second Harvest says one in six children face food insecurity. ORAU and neighboring organizations are stepping up during Hunger Action Month to raise awareness and provide crucial assistance to those in need. Second Harvest Food Bank is part of the Feeding America network, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, which launched Hunger Action Month in September of 2007 to inspire communities to take action.
Early fall is a vital time to support food banks, as many local pantries experience increased demand heading into the holiday season and colder months when families face higher utility bills.
At ORAU, there are a couple ways for employees and community members to get involved:
- Donate non-perishable food: Collection bins are available at various ORAU and ORISE buildings for easy drop-off.
- Give online: Visit our donation website to contribute funds or “purchase” items like fresh apples, eggs, dairy products or canned goods—all without visiting a store or delivering groceries.
Information provided by Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee makes a significant impact by distributing more than 21 million pounds of food each year to individuals and families who are facing hunger across Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Fentress, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union counties.
ORAU believes that together we can make a difference in the fight against hunger. Join us in supporting the Secret City Harvest of Hope campaign and help us ensure that no one in our community goes hungry.