Feed hungry families

Candace Esparza, Volunteer said, "Everybody says it’s that time of year that everybody is worried about the cold. Everybody says you know, the homeless, what are we going to do about the homeless. You got to kind of put action behind words." More than a dozen employees and clients with Ameriprise Financial came ready to work at the Chattanooga Community Kitchen.

Bryan Kelly, Kelly & Dutton Ameriprise Financial Owner said, "One of the things that motivated us to decide to participate today is today is the ‘National Day of Service.’ And it was something we felt very strongly about. Giving back to the community." The Chattanooga Community Kitchen receives more than 75-percent of their food in the next couple of months. Volunteers did everything from stock the newly delivered food on shelves, stacked crates and organized the food supply. Kelly said, "Making sure that all of the food is sorted. A lot of the donations that come in, come in boxes and pallets and we are breaking those out to make them useful for the staff here to be able to prepare for meals whenever they are ready too."

Volunteers say they are more than happy to help the community anyway they can. Esparza said, "Taking care of each other. Chattanooga is a great place. As you drive around town, you’ll see bridges and under most of those bridges is somebody’s home. So anything we can do to help. Happy to do it." Kelly said, "Chattanooga is a wonderful place to live and we love to be able to give back."

Representatives hope to do more volunteering in the future.