Written by Alexis Carpenter

The warehouse lights flicker on as volunteers walk through the door and make their way to rows of stacked pallets and assembly lines. The scent of produce and cardboard boxes mingle in the humid atmosphere, and the sound of pop music fills the large warehouse. Volunteers begin to sort canned goods, bag fresh vegetables, and prepare boxes for distribution.

Yet, beneath this effort lies a growing crisis. The Chattanooga Area Food Bank, a lifeline for residents across 20 counties in Tennessee and Georgia, is dealing with significant funding cuts. A nationwide halt of $500 million in federal food aid, including the suspension of USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation funding, has resulted in the cancellation of multiple truckloads of food. These shipments are now absent from the food bank’s inventory, leaving bare shelves within the warehouse.

In the midst of the working warehouse is Katy Neusner, the Advocacy and Communications Coordinator of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. As the organization works to bridge the gap left by the funding cuts, Neusner and her colleagues face a task of sustaining their mission amid dwindling resources.​

“I support both advocacy and communications at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank,” Neusner said. “That means I manage our social media, create content like graphics and videos, and help keep our external messaging clear and consistent. On the advocacy side, I track legislation and participate in coalition meetings, and I’m currently serving as the Chair of the Chattanooga Food Coalition.”​

The food bank serves 11 counties in Tennessee and 9 in Northwest Georgia. Their mission is to lead and unite the community to eliminate hunger by feeding and empowering those they serve. This mission manifests daily through sourcing food, distributing it to over 200 hunger-relief partners, operating mobile pantries, and running programs like Foxwood Food Center.

“The Foxwood Food Center is a grocery-store-style facility where people can choose food based on their preferences, allergies, and dietary needs,” Neusner said. “We believe that people should have a choice in what they eat; it’s a matter of treating people with dignity and respect.”

The center also receives produce from the Food Bank’s garden, a space that serves both as a source of fresh food and as an educational tool. 

“Produce from the garden is brought to Foxwood to be distributed directly to neighbors,” said Neusner. “The teaching garden is also used for educational purposes, teaching children and families about growing food, healthy eating, and sustainability. Volunteers and staff help maintain it. We also grow seedlings to distribute to the community, help set up community gardens at schools and community centers, and create grow buckets for families who may not have a lot of space but want to grow their own food.”​

The demand for food assistance has surged in recent years, driven by rising food and living costs. Many working families, seniors on a fixed income, and individuals facing unexpected hardships can turn to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank for help.

There are many challenges to running a successful food bank despite all the work they have done. The demand often outweighs the supply, and rising food prices are making it harder to find food at a good quality and price. However, many people partner with the Food Bank to help make it possible.

“There’s nonprofits, churches, schools, and businesses that donate food/funds and volunteer with us. Our list of hunger-relief partners are listed on the ‘find help’ section of our website when you enter a county or zip code.” said Neusner.

Not only are the partners important, but the volunteers and the community are who make this possible. Individuals can volunteer, donate, host food drives, or fundraise. Roles within volunteering range from sorting food to assisting people in need to the right place. Volunteers also care for the Food Bank garden, assist with educational initiatives, participate in events, and help raise awareness about food insecurity and nutrition.

As the day goes on, the warehouse continues to buzz with activity. Boxes are loaded onto trucks to be delivered to feeding programs across the area. In this place, where people continue to pack boxes and tie off bags of food for kids in schools, there’s a hope for a hunger-free future at every table.

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