50 years for Chattanooga Food Bank
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- “I think what’s amazing about this food bank, as we work with so many amazing partners across our community, that we don’t have to imagine a world where our neighbors are going hungry because we’re here,” said Blevins.
For five decades, the Food Bank has provided food for those in need in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia.
“We’ve been in this building for about 16 years. When we first moved into this building, we’re doing about a third of the distribution they were doing now. So I imagine, that this facility, 100 tractor-trailer loads full of groceries every 90 days is going out in our community to feed our hungry neighbors,” said Blevins.
President and CEO of the Food Bank, Melissa Blevins, says when she thinks about serving the community, she thinks about people like Mary.
“Mary is 83. She came to our back door here about five or six years ago because she had six potatoes in her cabinet. She lives on a fixed income. She got $14 a month in food stamps and she was hungry. At that moment, I knew, that we are to this community to do better by Mary,” said Blevins.
Now that the food bank has celebrated 50 years, it’s now time to look forward to serving for the next 50 years.
“50 years is quite a landmark. It’s quite remarkable. 50 years of serving the most vulnerable people in our region. 50 years of volunteer service, selfless donations, and a whole lot of hard work and long hours that make the food bank’s work possible,” said Chattanooga Mayor, Tim Kelly.
“And that is one of the words were thinking about, as we move this organization for the next 50 years as what’s possible,” said Blevins.
“Look forward to the next 50 years. I probably won’t see you in 50 years but most of you won’t either, so,” said Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger.
