Chattanooga firefighters are accustomed to responding to emergencies such as fires, medical emergencies and car wrecks, because it’s their job, but every August, they try to help with another emergency: hunger. “It’s not in our mission statement,” said Fire Chief Lamar Flint, “but we like to do what we can once a year to help the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. After all, we’re helping to feed people who for whatever reason are having a really hard time.”
The “Firefighters Against Hunger Food Drive is coming up August 18–24.
There will be a day-long kick-off event in the parking lot of the Northtowne Square Plaza on Hwy.153 in Hixson, next to the Dairy Queen. From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Chattanooga firefighters will accept donations of non-perishable food on behalf of the food bank. Items that are specifically needed include canned corn, canned green peas, bags of rice, cereal, hot cereal (oatmeal/grits), dry beans, canned pasta and tuna.
For those who cannot make it to our kick-off event, there will be collection barrels at all 19 fire stations in Chattanooga for the duration of the food drive. You can also donate from your own home or office by donating to the Firefighters Against Hunger virtual food drive: http://vad.aidmatrix.org/vadxml.cfm?driveid=29641.