The Hunger Walk, started in 2014, is Monteagle-Sewanee Rotary Club’s major annual fundraiser. Proceeds support Morton Memorial Food Mission, the Community Action Committee (CAC) and the Grundy County Food Bank. This event raises awareness about issues of food insecurity on the South Cumberland Plateau as well as raises money to help end them.
12th Annual Rotary Hunger Walk
2026 ROTARY HUNGER WALK
When: Saturday, September 26th at 9:00 AM
Where: Angel Park (Sewanee, TN)
The Monteagle-Sewanee Rotary Club will host its 12th Annual Hunger Walk on Saturday, September 26th. The Club aims to raise $100,000 to support local organizations fighting food insecurity in the South Cumberland Plateau region of Middle Tennessee.
To learn about the importance of this event and the impact it has on our partners, read more in “Facts & Figures.”
To show your support, visit our fundraising page (button below) to make a donation.
WHAT IS FOOD INSECURITY?
Food insecurity means limited or unreliable access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle. It affects hundreds of thousand of people across Tennessee, including many rural communities like the South Cumberland Plateau.
Source: Feeding America
FOOD INSECURITY RATES BY COUNTY
South Cumberland Plateau Region
GRUNDY COUNTY FOOD BANK
The Grundy County Food Bank (GCFB) is dedicated to ensuring that no one in Grundy County goes hungry. Each Tuesday morning, board members and volunteers distribute food to eligible families at 114 South Industrial Road, Coalmont from 8 AM to 10 AM.
During the 2025 - 2026 fiscal year, GCFB distributed 2 million pounds of food and served 3,120 households, reaching approximately 8,000 people (5,908 adults and 2,079 children).
GCFB received 620,575 pounds of food from seven local partners, including major donors Walmart and Bimbo Bakery in Kimball. These partnerships are essential as demand continues to grow.
Through community partnerships, volunteers, and generous donors, GCFB remains committed to ensuring that Grundy County families have access to the food they need.
In Tennessee, 16.3% of the population are food insecure. This translates to 1,178,460 residents who lack adequate access to food.
Food insecurity rates across the 3 counties in the South Cumberland Plateau are higher compared to the Tennessee state average of 16.3%. The percentages listed are from data collected through 2024.
WHY IS FOOD INSECURITY MORE COMMON IN RURAL AREAS?
For a multitude of factors, but often because of the lack of transportation in rural areas and low wages across employers. Individuals often live far away from grocery stores and food pantries, therefore making it difficult to access food. In addition, oftentimes working individuals are not able to afford food due to low wages and the increased cost of living across the US.
HEAR FROM OUR LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES
Local food pantries, community programs, and neighbors make a difference everyday.
MORTON MEMORIAL FOOD MISSION
Morton Memorial Food Mission (MMFM) serves 12,000 pounds of food to approximately 240 to 275 families in the South Cumberland Plateau community on the second Saturday of each month. They recently said “Food insecurity is difficult and real. It touches both the young and the old, those who are working as well as those who are retired and leaves people stripped of their pride and dignity. We work diligently to provide healthy, sustainable food for our Saturday Family.” Morton Food Mission Director, Alyse Getty, shared “I don’t know what the overall impact [of cuts to USDA, Medicaid and SNAP] will be nor when we shall feel it. So many variables that impact our families in need. Cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, impacts to roll backs to farmers, other services relying on federal dollars, and the list goes on and on…it’s overwhelming!” Ms. Getty relayed concerns as the Food Mission’s community of neighbors and supporters brace for impacts yet unknown, the level of uncertainty and challenge are at an all-time high.
COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE
As an outreach program of the Episcopal Parish of St. Mark & St. Paul, the Community Action Committee (CAC) works to meet the basic needs of neighbors living in poverty or experiencing crisis, primarily through our food pantry and emergency assistance program.
At the food pantry, neighbors can choose from quality pantry staples, fresh produce, bread and meats donated by local merchants, and frozen heat-and-eat meals.
Each week, CAC supports more than 50 unique families from the Franklin and Grundy county areas, reaching approximately 260 individuals. The pantry welcomes about 200 visits each month, a 33% increase from 2025, and more than 2,500 visits over the past year. On average, 31 new families seek assistance each month, reflecting the growing need in our community.
This work is made possible through the generosity of donors, volunteers, partners, and organizations like the Monteagle-Sewanee Rotary Club. We are grateful to be a place where our neighbors know they can find support when they need it most.
11th Annual Hunger Walk (2025)
The Monteagle-Sewanee Rotary Club Annual Hunger Walk was held on September 20, 2025. The weather was beautiful, spirits were high, the turnout was exceptional. And best of all - generous donors and participants were responsible for donations that exceeded donations of all previous years. All contributions will go to support the three local food ministries in our area - CAC, Grundy County Food Bank, and Morton Memorial United Methodist Church Food Ministry. This year the Hunger Walk raised more than $100,000 for these organizations. We are so proud of Rotarian Kathy Henslee for her oversight and leadership in organizing this wonderful event. And we also thank the students from the University of the South who were diligent in their skills at fundraising. The entire plateau benefits from the work of so many people who have a heart for our neighbors who experience food insecurity.
10th Annual Hunger Walk (2024)
The Monteagle-Sewanee Rotary Club hosted the 10th Annual Hunger Walk on Saturday, September 21st. The event brought in over $70,000 to support the local organizations fighting food insecurity on the mountain. The Club is grateful for everyone’s support and participation to make this event so successful!
