thanks for the help

To the Editor:
It’s no secret to anyone that times are tough and a lot of people are suffering. Far too many readers of this very paper, the Herald, need help. And there is no more basic need than food.
Now, thanks to both an upfront gift and the ongoing generosity of Walmart more people in East Tennessee will be able to get the food they need.
Second Harvest Food Bank supplies food to 18 counties across the area including Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Fentress, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union. Caring people at many different organizations help distribute the food, but most get the food from Second Harvest.
Last year alone Second Harvest supplied enough food for 9.7 million meals. And this year the demand is growing by more than 15,000 meals a month.
Trying to meet that demand is daunting, but the support of Walmart will help. All Walmart stores across East Tennessee will be donating food. What’s more, to help gather that food Walmart has given Second Harvest a refrigerated truck to make pickups at the stores, a gift worth at least $75,000. What’s more they also gave Second Harvest a cash grant of $40,000.
We want to thank Walmart. Their support will mean a great deal.  We also want to thank the Sheriff’s officers from across the 18 counties who helped form a motorcade to escort the new truck into town. It was moving for all of us involved.
Finally, we encourage all of you to visit our website at http://www.secondharvestknox.org where you can learn more about our organization and see the demands and meals supplied in each of the counties we serve. Our reach is wide, the demand growing and your help is much needed.
Again, thanks to Walmart for a generous gift and ongoing support. We only wish it weren’t so deeply needed.