Dear friends and neighbors,

Over the past two years, I have written to you during moments of uncertainty, urgency, relief, and gratitude. Each letter carried a different piece of the same story: changes to federal nutrition programs making local impact, the need for food assistance growing, our neighbors working harder to make ends meet, and our communities showing up with compassion and generosity.

Today, I want to step back from the immediate crisis of any one week or one headline and share a broader perspective on what hunger looks like in our region, how the Chattanooga Area Food Bank is responding, and why this work matters to the future of our region.

The state of hunger is changing. Since 2019, food costs have risen 27%, while rent, home prices, and childcare have increased by more than 40%. Today, 42% of households in our communities cannot cover basic expenses. One missed paycheck, an unexpected medical bill, a reduction in hours, or an unexpected expense can quickly turn a tight budget into a crisis for our neighbors.

Our response is growing. Last year, the Food Bank distributed nearly 22 million pounds of food, providing a record 18.3 million meals through a network of two hundred partners across 2 states, 20 counties and 7,000 square miles. Today, we are expanding access to more nutritious food, connecting more neighbors to benefits and other resources, investing in local food systems, and strengthening the connections between food and healthcare.

We call this feeding the line and shortening the line. Feeding the line means ensuring our neighbors are served with dignity and care and have access to food when they need it. Shortening the line means addressing the barriers that contribute to hunger and helping create greater stability for tomorrow.

Our growth is not about becoming bigger for the sake of being bigger. It is about becoming more proactive, more responsive, and more deeply connected to the communities we serve.

And so I encourage you to think about the Food Bank differently, not only as a charity, but also as an investment in our communities.

Last year, the work of the Food Bank represented a $50 million investment in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. The return is measured not only in meals, but in healthier families, stronger neighborhoods, a more stable workforce, and greater opportunity for our neighbors to thrive. When people have enough nutritious food, they have more room to work, learn, plan, and build a better future.

Charity will always be essential to meeting immediate need. But investment allows us to think beyond the crisis in front of us and toward the food-secure community we want to build.

The need is changing. Our response is growing. And with the continued investment in our communities, we can nourish our neighbors today, while building a stronger, healthier, more food-secure future for everyone. To learn more about our 2030 vision and the key strategies that support our work click here.

Thank you for believing in this work, investing in our neighbors, and standing with us to end hunger.

With Gratitude,

Melissa

President & CEO