Over the last few weeks, Mayor Andy Berke received numerous calls from families seeking food assistance, as they had not been able to secure a food voucher. To address the food voucher shortage, Mayor Berke announced Tuesday that the City will purchase 250 food vouchers to be distributed in the two area zip codes most in need. Those two zip codes have been identified as 37404 and 37406.
During the press conference, which was held at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank with interim president Christa Mannarino, Mayor Berke detailed a message he received from a constituent, asking for help in securing a food voucher.
“A few weeks ago, I received a Facebook message from a mother, I’ll call her Sarah, who desperately needed help for her family.
Sarah’s husband was laid off and with two children and no income, their refrigerator and cupboards were bare. She had never needed assistance in feeding her family so she didn’t know what to do,” said Mayor Berke.
“Sarah called 211,” Mayor Berke said. “She went to a church to pick up a food voucher but they were out. She called 211 again and tried to secure a food voucher from a different organization. Again, no food vouchers were available. When Sarah was finally able to secure a food voucher, she did not have the transportation necessary to pick it up. This is a frustrating cycle especially for families already enduring unimaginable stress.”
“Desperate, the only thing Sarah knew to do was send me a Facebook message, asking for help,” said Mayor Berke. “Molly from my staff called her right away and with the help of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, an emergency food box was taken to her house. This is just one person in need. But unfortunately, this is a situation all too familiar for many in our community.”
“The mission of the Food Bank is to lead a network of partners in eliminating hunger and promoting better nutrition in our region,” said CAFB interim president Christa Mannarino. “Of the 20 counties we serve in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia, Hamilton County has the most need. We know that there are approximately 57,000 people in Hamilton County who don’t know where their next meal will come from—that translates in to approximately 8.2 million meals that go missing each year. Last year, the Food Bank, along with our community partners in the area, was able to distribute just 3.3 million meals. We need to do much more.”
Mayor Berke went on to recognize that 250 vouchers wouldn’t be enough to address the issue of food insecurities families face everyday in Chattanooga.
“These food vouchers won’t fix the long-term issues we face, but they will directly meet the immediate needs of 250 Chattanooga families. This, coupled with the programs around the city and more awareness of the issues of hunger, will get us headed in the right direction,” said Mayor Berke. “Just this year, the City has started an afterschool and dinner program in our YFD centers. We are serving 500 young people per day our Supper Meal, which is served from 4-6 p.m. That’s 2,500 kids a week that know where they can access food resources after school.”
“The goal with this program is to provide food assistance to those in need,” said Ms. Mannarino. “The people we serve seek aid for a variety of reasons. Each story is different, but many of those we serve are the working poor. People who have jobs, but are struggling to make ends meet. Our emergency food box program enables us to reach families, seniors, and children when they are most vulnerable. The generous contributions of the Mayor’s office toward our emergency food box program will help us close the gap between the number of people in need and the number of people served.”
Mayor Berke and interim president Mannarino urged the community to help in any way they can, pointing out that a dollar donated to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank equal four meals.
“Much of the food we source comes from the kind donations of retailers, manufacturers and local farmers. But we also purchase food at reduced prices because of our buying power—which is why donated dollars can go much farther than donated food items. When purchasing food, nutritional value is important to us as we know it is critical for the people we serve,” said Ms. Mannarino. “It takes a community to solve hunger. And we welcome the support of individuals and organizations in helping us meet the need in our area.”
“So just by donating $5, you are really impacting the life of a family in Chattanooga,” said Mayor Berke. “If you can’t give money, consider giving your time. My younger daughter volunteers here regularly and is constantly trying to get her friends to bring food here. Volunteering at the food bank is rewarding, and it directly helps get food into the hands of the people who need it most in Chattanooga.”
Both Mayor Berke and the Chattanooga Area Food Bank encourage residents to donate just $5 dollars for 20 meals. Individuals can visit
connect.chattanooga.gov/GIVE5 or text Give5 to 97779 to pledge to give. All donated funds will go directly to feed families in need throughout our area.
"Please encourage friends and family members to give $5 by sharing this information on social media sites with the hashtag #Give5Feed20," officials said. "If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance please contact United Way’s 211. The City of Chattanooga’s donated food vouchers will be processed and available through partner organizations in identified zip codes in the coming days."
To learn more about the Chattanooga Area Food Bank including their volunteer opportunities, visit www.chattfoodbank.org.