Pictured, left to right, are Nick Churillo, Publix Atlanta district manager, and Mark Hilling, Chattanooga Area Food Bank interim president & CEO
Chattanooga Area Food Bank announced Wednesday it received a $60,000 donation from Publix Super Markets Charities to support the Food Bank’s School Mobile Pantry Program and emergency hunger relief in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The Food Bank serves 20 counties across Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia where nearly 200,000 people overall could face food insecurity as a result of the pandemic.
Officials said, "Publix Charities is a long-time supporter of the School Mobile Pantry Program that provides monthly distributions during the school year of needed, nutritious food to families facing hunger. The Food Bank is working closely with schools to ensure programs like School Mobile Pantries continue regardless of changes to school schedules. The donation will help serve the one in five people overall, including one in four children, expected to be affected by the economic impact of COVID-19. Publix Charities has given a total of $674,923 to Chattanooga Area Food Bank since 2008."
“It is a fitting way to kick off Hunger Action Month by hosting Publix which is an inspiring example of how action can help fight hunger,” said Food Bank Interim President & CEO Mark Hilling. “Publix supports our efforts to fight hunger year-round through financial and food donations, giving hope to people across our 20-county service area who are facing hunger.”
Officials said, "Additionally, as the impact of the pandemic took shape, many produce and dairy farmers around the Southeast saw their buying partners dry up and found themselves dumping or plowing over product they could no longer sell. Meanwhile, food banks throughout the region were experiencing substantial increases in need. To bridge the gap, Publix implemented a program to purchase surplus produce and milk from farmers and deliver it directly to food banks. Since then, Publix has purchased and delivered more than 11 million pounds of produce and 500,000 gallons of milk to Feeding America member food banks throughout the Southeast, including 284,949 million pounds of produce and 7,920 gallons of milk to Chattanooga Area Food Bank."
“It has been our privilege to support hunger relief throughout the Southeast for many years now, and this work has never been more important,” said Publix CEO Todd Jones. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support Chattanooga Area Food Bank and to alleviate hunger in the communities we serve and bring hope to those who need it most during these uncertain times.”
Anyone in need of food can visit chattfoodbank.org/hungry to find help close to where they live. Hamilton County residents may dial 211 or text their zip code to 898-211 to be connected with a voucher for an emergency food box.