Chattanooga Area Food Bank has received $70,000 from Publix Charities and 284,949 pounds of produce from Publix.
The local donations are part of the national Hunger Action Month, a time meant to raise awareness and inspire action to alleviate hunger.
Officials said, "According to Feeding America, 10.9 percent of Americans are food insecure and that rate is even higher here in Tennessee: 13.3 percent of Tennesseans face hunger. And just last year in 2020 food banks saw an unprecedented increase (50 percent) in demand, providing food assistance to 60 million Americans in 2020."
“Having food on the table is an essential need that millions of people throughout our communities struggle with every day. As a food retailer, helping provide nourishing meals to our neighbors in need is at the heart of who we are,” said Publix CEO Todd Jones. “It is our privilege to join our customers in helping to alleviate hunger and do good together for our communities.”