Development of an East Tennessee tri-county community food assessment instrument to aid in the construction and implementation of a working food model

The purpose of this study was to determine the needs and relationships of high-risk community members in Cocke County Tennessee to food sources. Cocke County was chosen as the representative county in this pilot study due its high percentage of residents living at or below the poverty level, which can lead to hunger and food insecurities. A community food assessment was conducted among residents participating in a commodities disbursement program in Cocke County. Two hundred seven individuals participated in this survey. The results of the surveys were posted and analyzed using an online statistical analysis software program. With the needs of the Cocke County community identified, steps will be taken to implement a plan of action and the results from this study will also be used as a model to identify needs in both Greene and Hancock counties as well as other counties in the Northeast Tennessee region.