Legislators visit YMCA summer Food and Fun Program in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Legislators visited the YMCA Food & Fun Program on Tuesday. They wanted to get a first-hand look at how the YMCA is helping children in our community. 

No Kid Hungry is a national nonprofit working to make sure children get the nutrition they need. Leaders were glad to see state officials interested in what this program does.

“It’s so important when they’re making decisions to be connected to the community, and they make a lot of decisions that impact what we do with the ‘Y’ every day,” No Kid Hungry Youth Ambassador, Caroline Greenholtz said. “Having them come down and really understand what hunger is like in our community, what the anti-hunger initiatives in our community do and a little bit of what our staff does. we just think it is really important for them to be aware.” 

The YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga has been a part of the Chattanooga community for more than 150 years.

Now, it touches the lives of 60,000 people at 18 different locations.

The “Y” is working to build strong, thriving and equitable communities. One way they do that is by feeding children who don’t have enough to eat.

“We feed during the summer and during the school year. We go out to parks, churches, community centers, libraries all over the Chattanooga area,” Greenholtz said. “We feed everything from breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks to children of all ages from two to 18.”

Senator Bo Watson says the YMCA does a great job distributing meals to local communities. 

“It’s a great thing that you have enough people willing to work and volunteer, and in a program that is expanding in its size and in its distribution,” Tennessee Senator Bo Watson said. “They serve not only this area, but they go up into Rhea County as well as North Georgia.”

Healthy meals top the menu at the YMCA Food and Fun program.

They hope to make good nutrition a way of life for generations.

“In the summer we make sure that children get all three meals a day and a snack. And this is important to make sure that they are getting the nutrients they need to grow, sustain, and not fall behind in the growth process between the school year and in the summer,” Greenholtz concluded.

Those seeking more information can visit YMCA Chattanooga.