Pictured, left to right, are John Griffey and Alex Agee
In response to COVID-19 and tornadoes that swept through the greater Chattanooga area, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated 40,000 pounds of food items to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. A semi-truck from the Atlanta Bishop’s Storehouse arrived at the Food Bank on Monday.
Laura Kirkpatrick, director of Agency and Government Relations for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, greeted Church officials at the site – including President John Griffey of the Chattanooga Stake (greater Chattanooga area) and President Alex Agee (of the Chattanooga branch).
“We are grateful to the Latter-Day Saints for their generous food donation that will help to provide meals to people in crisis across our service area. Without this gift and the outpouring of help from our community, we would not be able to respond to the tremendous need we are facing today,” Ms.
Kirkpatrick said. “Thousands of people who never needed to depend on assistance before are now turning to the Food Bank for help. That’s in addition to the one in eight people in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia – including one in five children – who didn’t have enough to eat before the pandemic and tornadoes struck our area.”
The Atlanta Bishop’s Storehouse is a regional storehouse. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has hundred of bishop’s storehouses in operation. According to officials, “Storehouses have always been a part of the Lord’s Church. He has continually instructed His people to seek out the poor and help care for their needs, and He established storehouses as a means of providing those people with needed resources.
“The first storehouse that we know of was the one operated by the high priest, prophet and king Melchizedek (see Genesis 14:20) who was the keeper of the storehouse of God (Genesis 14:37-39). Joseph of Egypt also built storehouses in times of plenty and opened them in times of scarcity (Genesis 41:36). During His ministry, Christ tended to all those who suffer. After His death, the Apostles and other disciples followed His direction to care for the poor (see Matthew 19:21).
“Storehouses are filled with commodities provided by fast offerings and other generous donations from members. The Church has farms and ranches that are part of a vast food production and processing system. Many food items are produced under the Deseret label. Food and supplies from the storehouse are used to help God’s children everywhere, including those affected by natural disasters, wars or economic crises."
“We help where we are able,” President Griffey said. “But, as President Russell M. Nelson stated, ‘We still need help from heaven.’ This is why we are grateful for President Nelson’s call for all of us to unite our faith together. Latter-day Saints are pleased to stand with our brothers and sisters in the greater Chattanooga area to lift where we can and call upon Heavenly Father and His Son to bless every child of God, no matter race, religion or ethnicity. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is engaged in COVID-19 relief efforts across the globe, with over 110 projects in 57 countries. We are especially pleased to partner with the Chattanooga Food Bank.”
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank services several counties in the Tennessee/N. Georgia area. Last year, the Food Bank distributed 13,077,415 meals in 20 counties in SE Tennessee & NW Georgia. The Food Bank welcomes additional donations at this time. Learn more about how to donate to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank by visiting http://www.chattfoodbank.org.