Public voting could help First Baptist Gatlinburg Food Pantry expand its mission of serving families facing food insecurity across the Smoky Mountains.
GATLINBURG, Tenn. — A Gatlinburg nonprofit that provides food to families in need has a chance to receive a life-changing boost, and it needs the community’s help to make it happen.
The First Baptist Gatlinburg Food Pantry has been selected as a finalist in the 2026 Defender Service Awards Presented by Chase, a national program that recognizes charitable organizations making a difference in their communities.
If selected as a winner, the food pantry will receive a custom Defender 130 vehicle along with a $30,000 cash award to help expand its mission of fighting hunger across the Gatlinburg area and remote mountain communities of East Tennessee.
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The pantry serves individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, providing groceries and other essential items to those who need them most. Organizers say the additional funding and specialized vehicle would help them reach even more people, including residents living in hard-to-access mountain communities.
The Defender Service Awards recognize organizations that go above and beyond to serve others. Since launching in 2021, the program has awarded more than $1.5 million and 30 customized Defender vehicles to charitable organizations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.
This year, six organizations will each receive a customized Defender 130 vehicle and a $30,000 grant. Every finalist also receives a $5,000 cash award to support its mission.
Community members can play a critical role by voting for the First Baptist Gatlinburg Food Pantry and sharing the opportunity with family and friends.
Smokies.LIVE Community Spotlight: Every vote helps shine a light on the incredible work being done to fight hunger in the Smokies. By supporting the First Baptist Gatlinburg Food Pantry, the community has an opportunity to help bring additional resources to families who rely on the pantry’s services every week.
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