PORCH Chattanooga looking to tackle increasing food insecurity

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A new organization in the Chattanooga area is looking to tackle food insecurity.
PORCH Chattanooga collects food donations straight off of your front porch and takes it to local food pantries.

(Courtesy: PORCH)

Currently, they partner with the Northshore Neighborhood House, Joseph’s Storehouse at Dallas Bay Baptist Church, and the Red Bank Food Pantry.

They are one of 40 chapters across the country, as PORCH was founded in 2010 in North Carolina.

PORCH Chattanooga is looking to expand their presence here in Chattanooga as a recent report by Vanderbilt shows nearly four out of 10 parents in Tennessee have reported food insecurity.

Additionally, PORCH reports nearly 15 percent of Chattanooga families are food insecure.

“It’s more important now than ever. The cost of food is going up, and we’re just trying to make it easy, because sometimes it’s overwhelming to think, “Well, I don’t know. I can’t get to a food pantry. I don’t know what to get.” I believe that if one can of tuna, one can of green beans on your porch it’s going to make a difference for somebody,” said PORCH Chattanooga founder Anne Rico, who founded this chapter a year ago after moving to Chattanooga from Atlanta.

If you are interested in joining their mission through donations or volunteering, Rico says to contact her through their website.

Currently, the chapter is primarily focused on Chattanooga, but looks to expand to neighboring communities.