MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee announced Wednesday morning that it has activated its emergency plan in response to growing needs throughout East Tennessee.

Jon Rice with Second Harvest said currently thousands of families across East Tennessee are facing food uncertainty.

Federal funds could begin running dry Saturday . Those funds help tens of millions of Americans buy food for their families. If Congress doesn’t reach a deal by then to end the U.S. government shutdown, those families will be without.

The US Department of Agriculture has warned there is not enough money to fund the program into November without Congressional action, so benefits would be cut off by the end of the week.

Second Harvest Food Bank collects food and distributes to food

See Full Page