The Newsletter of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank
Spring 2025
Nourish
R IN REVIE
R Y
EA
OU
2024 W
Letisia Corral, Patric Hale, Aracelis Hidalgo, and Alma Smith utilize their life experiences, deep
Team Spotlight
wells of empathy, and serene patience to ensure our eligible neighbors in Tennessee and Georgia are receiving benefits and accessing resources they need to thrive. Every day, they’re making calls or traveling across our 20-county service area, or, more likely, doing both, to assist with applications and recertification for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as “food stamps”) and other benefits. Letisia, our Public Benefits Supervisor, has been conducting this work for six years at the food bank. She says her team not only helps people apply for benefits but also ensures their application is moving through the system. “We advocate for them,” she says. The food bank has established and nurtured vital relationships with the Tennessee and Georgia agencies responsible for SNAP and other benefits, allowing our team to receive direct updates regarding applicants’ cases. Our team is also highly sensitive to certain keywords that might pop up during a phone conversation, hints that the caller could benefit from some additional resources in their area. “I always tell people, ‘We’re in your corner,’” says Patric. But building such a level of trust across a short phone call can be challenging, says Aracelis. “We’re just a voice on the other side of the phone,” she says, “but I always let them know that they can actually come and see me. Letting them know I’m here, Patric’s here, Lety’s here—or wherever they’re at throughout the week—just so they know we’re real people that they can trust, and that we’re here to help.” She mentions a recent call with a woman in Rhea County who was slightly hesitant to provide her information over the phone. As luck would have it, Aracelis was traveling to Rhea County the next day, and the caller made an appointment to meet in person. Alma is our Resource Navigator. On any normal day, she can be found tabling at Foxwood Food Center, ready to answer any questions our guests may have about SNAP and other resources. She’s amassed a catalogue of services offered by local and state agencies that help our neighbors navigate rent and utility assistance, job training, healthcare, and more. With Alma stationed at Foxwood, Letisia, Aracelis, and Patric can hold in person meetings, outreach at local organizations, and travel to special events and conferences across our service area. Ultimately, Letisia says, they’re like the case workers of the food bank. She says callers will “talk to us about anything. We’ve heard so many stories, and we’ll do whatever we can to help.”
Partner Spotlight Voluntary Action Center, locally known as “The VAC,” has been a partner of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank for over ten years. The nonprofit organization is located in the heart of Calhoun, Georgia, just a few steps south of the historic downtown. Three buildings have been stitched together to form the organization’s small but homey campus: the Thrift Store, the Office, and the combined Community Kitchen and Food Pantry. The VAC offers a number of social service programs that aim to increase the quality of life for our Gordon County neighbors, such as financial education classes, emergency financial assistance, and laundry and shower facilities (available to unhoused residents by appointment). Medical equipment, such as crutches, walkers, and canes, are also stored onsite for anyone in the community who may need them. The organization is most well-known, though, for its free hot meals and generous grocery bags. In 2024 alone, The VAC’s Community Kitchen dished out 27,943 meals and their food pantry provided 6,463 grocery bags. While the food pantry is reserved for Gordon County residents, the hot meals are available to anyone. From Monday through Friday, Lunch is served on-site in the community dining room, and dinner is offered to-go. The food pantry operates Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Guests receive a hefty bag of non-perishable foods like cereal, canned proteins, peanut butter, and ready-to-eat meals, plus a bundle of fresh foods like eggs, bread, meat, and produce. “I appreciate our partnership with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank and joining the VAC in being the heart of the caring community,” said Miranda Bentley, Executive Director. To support Voluntary Action Center and their commitment to Gordon County, supporters can make financial contributions, donate food or gently-used items, volunteer, or shop at the Thrift Store, open Monday through Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
Volunteer Spotlight
Andreas Ritchie has been volunteering with the food bank since October
2023, after relocating to Chattanooga from Nashville. In the capital he was a regular volunteer at Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee for eight years. At CAFB, Andreas uses his food banking expertise in a variety of roles: produce sorter, personal shopper, shelf stocker, can labeler, and food box and sack pack packer. Notably, Andreas is also a volunteer driver, belonging to a select group of dedicated individuals who deliver sack packs throughout our network. For Andreas, volunteering is most memorable “when you see directly how glad people are that you can provide the help they need, and when you get the awareness that an hour spent volunteering has a really large impact on the lives of a lot of people.” Andreas retired in 2022 from a career in the logistics industry. When he’s not volunteering, he’s out hiking, playing pickleball, reading, listening to music, and spending time with his grandson.
The Best-o Pesto. Just for You.
upcoming events
This recipe is really a sketch of a recipe. Try it, tweak it, and make it how you want it. ½ cup lightly toasted unsalted pine nuts (or toasted unsalted sunflower seeds, if you have a tree nut allergy) 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (or whatever citrus you have on hand) Garlic (start with one large clove, more to taste) Salt (start with ¼ tsp, more to taste) Fresh ground pepper (start with three or four turns of the mill, more to taste) 2 cups basil leaves, packed ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated (or skip it for a vegan option and add more salt and oil)
April 21-25 Volunteer Appreciation Week 26 Scouting for Food May 10 Stamp Out Hunger September Hunger Action Month
More Options: Throw in some red pepper flakes, sun-dried tomatoes, or a fire-roasted chili. Toast the nuts slower and longer for a more malty flavor. Try using walnuts or pepitas. Add some arugula or Italian parsley. Pulse the nuts, juice, garlic, salt, and pepper in food processor or blender until well combined. Add basil and pulse until incorporated. With your machine running, slowly add oil until a smooth mix forms. If using cheese, add and pulse to combine.
@chattfoodbank chattfoodbank.org (423) 622-1800
Use immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Add a thin layer of olive oil before locking the lid to keep the pesto bright and green.
Main Warehouse PierceCenter Distribution Center Pierce Distribution Rd. S Hamilton1111 2009 Curtain Pole Rd. 2009 Curtain Pole 1111 St.S Hamilton St. Chattanooga, TN Dalton. GA Dalton. GA Chattanooga, TN
Main Warehouse @chattfoodbank
chattfoodbank.org M-Th: 8AM-4PM (423) 622-1800 F: 8AM-2PM
M-Th: 8AM-4PMM, T, Th: 9AM-2PM M, T, Th: 9AM-2PM F: 8AM-2PM Closed Wed, Fri Closed Wed, Fri
Foxwood Center Foxwood FoodFood Center Wilcox 32093209 Wilcox Blvd. Blvd. Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN TN 9AM-4PM M-Th:M-Th: 9AM-4PM F: 9AM-12PM F: 9AM-12PM
scan to find food
to apply for SNAP
to volunteer
to tour
to donate