Tag: East Tennessee Food Bank

Wilderness at the Smokies resort provides free water safety training during National Water Safety Month

Posted by – May 27, 2010

Sevierville, Tenn. –  Wilderness at the Smokies resort in Sevierville, Tenn. conducted free water safety training programs during National Water Safety Month in May.  The programs, which were available to school groups, community groups and church groups, taught the basics of water safety and rescue techniques.

Because of its commitment to water safety, and the highly trained staff at Wilderness at the Smokies resort, Wilderness at the Smokies management allocated facilities and the water safety staff to the training programs.

“Nothing we do here at Wilderness at the Smokies resort is as important as water safety,” said Dave McGregor, General Manager at Wilderness at the Smokies resort.  “We want our guests to have a great, relaxing experience at our waterparks – but safety will always be our top priority.  Our safety experts are simply the best in the business at what they do, and National Water Safety Month gave us an opportunity to share that with our community.”

Water safety traing at Wilderness at the Smokies Resort.

Each and every lifeguard at Wilderness at the Smokies is Ellis Trained and Certified – and they meet the industry’s absolute highest training standards.  Ellis Training involves some of the most rigorous physical and academic testing in the world – and it doesn’t stop at certification.  Ellis Certification requires that every lifeguard working at Wilderness at the Smokies goes through a safety audit and additional training every year. Over and above the stringent Ellis requirements, Wilderness at the Smokies randomly tests and challenges its lifeguards on a weekly basis to ensure the highest level of safety for our guests.

When you look at the 1,000 waterparks in the United States – and the approximately 80 million people who visit waterparks each and every year – the safety record is extraordinary.  Waterparks continue to provide the absolute safest place for families to play in the water together. Statistically, you are far more likely to be injured riding a bicycle or ironing your clothes than you are at a waterpark.  Compared to other recreational aquatic activities, both guarded and unguarded – including community pools, beaches, lakes, etc. – waterparks have the lowest risk of drowning.  As members of the World Waterpark Association (WWA), Wilderness at the Smokies supports any and all industry efforts to enhance the already amazingly safe environment we provide for our guests.

For more information about Wilderness at the Smokies resort, visit www.WildernessAtTheSmokies.com.  For more information about National Water Safety Month, visit www.WaterSafetyMonth.org.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee Presents the Second Annual Irish Festival

Posted by – August 19, 2009

Knoxville, Tenn. – Wear green and help feed the hungry of EastLogo Tennessee!  Second Harvest Food Bank will partner with the Irish community for the Second Annual East Tennessee Irish Festival on Saturday, August 22 at World’s Fair Park Festival Lawn from 1:00pm until 10:00pm.  

“Every dollar spent at the East Tennessee Irish Fest goes directly to helping feed the hungry in our community,” said Elaine Streno, Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank.  “At Second Harvest, we are helping over 145,000 people each month and these types of events allow us to continue our mission of ending hunger in East Tennessee.”

The festival will begin with the marching of Knoxville’s Pipes and Drums and a flag raising ceremony.  Bands such as the Dublin City Ramblers, Shamrock Road, and Sigean Band will entertain crowds throughout the day as will members of the Drake School of Irish Dance.  Attendees can enjoy a variety of Irish food and drinks while kids play on the inflatable playground, get their face painted, and meet and greet members of the Knoxville Fire and Police Departments.  A corn-hole tournament will begin at 4:00pm.

Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for UT students, police officers and firefighters; and kids 12 and under are free.

If you are interested in setting up an interview with a Second Harvest representative, please call John at 865-521-0000.  For more info visit: www.secondharvestknox.org or www.etnirishfest.com.

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Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, a member of Feeding America, has worked to eliminate hunger since 1982.  In 2009, this organization provided food for more than 9.7 million meals in 18 counties in East Tennessee.  With 6 major programs and 450 Agency/Food Partners, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee distributes food to more than 145,000 kids, adults and seniors each month. 

Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
(865) 584-0550
rwillis@ackermannpr.com

Second Harvest Announces Upcoming and Ongoing Food Drives

Posted by – August 5, 2009

LogoKnoxville, Tenn. - There are a number of food drives planned for the end of summer and beginning of fall in and around the Knoxville area.  Listed below are Second Harvest Food Drives scheduled for August and September as well as a list of the ongoing collections. 

  • Knox County Schools’ First Days – August 17 & 18
     
  • East TN Irish FestivalAugust 22, 2009 – The 2nd Annual Irish Festival will be held in World’s Fair Park. This festival is a celebration of Irish Culture and features traditional music, dance, cuisine, beverages, workshops, cultural exhibits as well as contemporary venders, an inflatable jungle gym for kids and much more.
     
  • 6 Shares High School Football ChallengeFall 2009 – High Schools across East Tennessee are paired with a rival High School, competing to see which school can raise more food and funds for Second Harvest Food Bank.  More than 20 high schools have signed up for this year’s 6 Shares High School Football Challenge.
     
  • Hola Hora Latina Festival September 18-21
     
  • Apple Tree NurseryOngoing – Second Harvest will be the beneficiary of the sale of Japanese red maples (Acer Plamatum), as part of an ongoing promotion by Apple Tree Nursery. Fifty percent of the sales of the Japanese red maple trees will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank. 

A number of other ongoing collections are taking place at a variety of organizations in the area, including:  Knoxville Jewish Alliance, Temple Beth El, Camping World, Superior Financial Services, Baha’is of Knoxville, Consolidated Products Inc., Stonewall II Apartments, Wyngate Homeowners Association, US Dept. of HUD, Howard Baker Federal Courthouse Building, High Places Community Church and Christian Family Church.

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For more information, please visit www.secondharvestknox.org.

Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
(865) 584-0550
rwillis@ackermannpr.com