Trey Smith, two-time Super Bowl champion and native Madison Countian, visited Jackson on April 22 to discuss his second year of fighting against childhood hunger in West Tennessee.
The Southwest Human Resource Agency began operating its Summer Food Service Program in 2006, which serves those 18 and under from May through August when school is not in session.
One in four West Tennessee children battle childhood hunger during the summer months when meals, typically provided during the school day, are not guaranteed, SWHRA leaders discussed during Smith’s appearance at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
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SWHRA distributes more than one million meals annually across its various assistance programs, and Executive Director Mike Smith says the organization aims to distribute 500,000 meals this year just in its summer program.
SWHRA Executive Director Mark Smith talks to media after the Summer Nutrition Program kickoff at Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Despite many volunteers and dedicated individuals needed to maintain SWHRA programs, Smith added that having the notoriety of someone like Smith to highlight the cause has been a great benefit to the program’s advancement.
“It’s like a lot of the things that happen at Southwest Human Resource Agency are kind of the best-kept secrets, so this is a way to make the communities aware of one of the programs that we’re doing there,” Mike Smith said.
Kansas City Chief and Madison County native Trey Smith helps kicks off the SWHRA Summer Nutrition Program at Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
“So his presence really ramped up the numbers and the interest. We got a lot of calls, we can put this information out, we can advertise, but somebody like Trey Smith comes and promotes it, it’s really big for us.”
The public nonprofit primarily serves Madison, Haywood, Henderson, Chester, Hardeman, McNairy, Hardin, and Decatur Counties, while select services are available in the remaining West Tennessee counties.
Kansas City Chief and Madison County native Trey Smith helps kicks off the SWHRA Summer Nutrition Program at Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Trey began partnering with SWHRA in April 2024 by embarking on an eight-county tour of West Tennessee, seeing and talking to those affected by childhood hunger.
“It’s a great day to be back home around great people,” Trey Smith said in closing remarks to attendees.
“Jackson, we’re a great community. West Tennessee is a great community. Thank you for the work that you guys do to make sure the youth get fed in West Tennessee. This is a beautiful day and anytime you guys need my help for anything, just let me know, I’m there.”
Madison County Mayor A.J. Massey speaks during the SWHRA Summer Nutrition Program kickoff at Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
During his visit to the Hub City on Tuesday, City of Jackson Mayor Scott Conger and Madison County Mayor A.J. Massey presented Trey with a proclamation honoring his generosity and civic responsibility by declaring April 22, 2025 as “Trey Smith Day.”
Sarah Best is a reporter for The Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to the Daily Briefing here.
This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: NFL star Trey Smith seeks to curb childhood hunger in West Tennessee