Nashville Zoo's first "Souper Bowl Food Drive" ended with more than 21,000 pounds of food collected last week. The drive is the largest collection ever for the Community Resource Center who partnered with the Zoo to receive and distribute shelf-stable food to more than 25 pantries located in eight counties around Middle Tennessee.
"We are overwhelmed by the amount of giving that our community is showing us," said Tina Doniger, Executive Director of the Community Resource Center. "Many of the food pantries we serve have been hit pretty hard due to the pandemic which caused many people to be out of work and at risk. We estimate that the Zoo's food drive alone will feed more the 7,000 people in the Middle Tennessee area."
From Feb. 7 (Super Bowl Sunday) to Feb. 13, Nashville Zoo asked guests to donate shelf-stable food including peanut butter, cereal, and canned fruit, meat, and vegetables. In return, the Zoo offered a complimentary admission ticket for every four donated items with a limit of two tickets per household. After two days, the Zoo had collected more than three tons of food.
"The Zoo is honored to host community engagement programs like this food drive," said Andy Tillman, Nashville Zoo's Chief Operating Officer. "We have been very fortunate to receive so much generous support from people who believe in our mission, and we will continue to look for ways that we can give back to our community into the future."
About Community Resource Center
For 35 years, the Community Resource Center of Nashville has been a supply line to the front lines of poverty. Their mission is to empower partner agencies to maintain their focus on providing critical services to Middle Tennessee's most vulnerable populations by relieving them of the burden of securing essentials like household products and food. In 2020, the CRC provided approximately $5 million in essential products. You can learn more about the Community Resource Center at crcnashville.org.
About Nashville Zoo
Nashville Zoo is a nonprofit organization and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry. The Zoo is actively engaged in conservation research, habitat protection, breeding programs, and education initiatives around the globe as well as in our own backyard. With support from the Nashville community, donors, and sponsors including our Experience Partners: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Middle Tennessee Honda Dealers, and Temptations cat treats, the Zoo is a top Nashville attraction and is consistently voted one of the best places to visit by TripAdvisor, Yelp, and a host of local and national review sites. Nashville Zoo is located at 3777 Nolensville Pike. For more information about Nashville Zoo, visit nashvillezoo.org.