Chattanooga Food Bank facing 77% increase in demand per report

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The impact of rising grocery prices is being demonstrated in the latest Hamilton Counted report.

The report, released every three months, gathers stats about crime and other issues affecting our community.

One stat that is striking is a large rise in the amount of food boxes being distributed at the Chattanooga Food Bank. 

Data shows in the first half of this year compared to 2022, there has been a 77 percent rise in the amount of boxes distributed. 

The Food Bank says a combination of rising grocery and housing prices, Covid-era assistance programs ending along with increasing awareness of the Food Bank’s Foxwood Food Center is driving the increase in demand.

Jeanine Carpenter, communications coordinator for the Food Bank said, “It’s really hard to meet the increased demand, so we’re always going to do it. What people don’t realize is that the Food Bank purchases around a third of the food we distribute, and we also we have great supporting organizations who donate quite a bit. The food drives that you see, also support some of those emergency food boxes, but really it’s a lot of hustling, a lot of grant, help from our partners.”

Those partners include non-profits and governmental assistance from Hamilton County.

Carpenter says that any donations or volunteer work is greatly appreciated to meet the demand.