Food for today, hope for tomorrow.
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank nourishes our community with food, resources, and connection.
We envision a hunger-free future.
Every meal, every volunteer, and every gift gets us closer.
1 in 6
households
in Southeast TN and Northwest GA may not know where their next meal is coming from.
49,058
children
in our 20-county service area face hunger.
16.9M
meals provided
to families by the Chattanooga Area Food Bank last year.
Hunger isn’t about food; it’s about access
We’re here to close the gap between food and the people who need it.
Rising costs, transportation challenges, and limited resources all contribute to food insecurity — but together, we can change that. By connecting people to food, reducing waste, and strengthening partnerships, we will create a future where every table is full.
How we end hunger together
Our hunger relief network works every day to turn community generosity into healthy meals for neighbors across 20 counties.
Food Comes In
We source millions of pounds of nutritious food every year from farmers, retailers, manufacturers, and Feeding America partners — as well as through community food drives and donations.
We Sort & Pack
In our warehouses, food is sorted, safely stored, and prepared for distribution. Volunteers and staff work together to ensure every item meets our quality standards.
Food Goes Out
Alongside a network of 200+ community partners, mobile pantries, schools, and pantry programs, we deliver food directly to the families and individuals who need it most.
Where our food comes from
We bring together farmers, grocers, manufacturers, and community partners to make sure good food doesn’t go to waste — and reaches the neighbors who need it most. We rescue safe, surplus food that might otherwise go to waste and supplement it with food we purchase, community donations, government food programs, and food drives.
Need food today? We’re here to help.
Visit our food map to find free groceries near you. See hours, what to expect, and connect to helpful resources.
Connecting food, people, and long-term solutions
Everyone needs a hand sometimes. From kids’ school programs to senior grocery support, from mobile pantries to emergency response, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank offers solutions that meet neighbors where they are. Our programs also include SNAP assistance, nutrition education, community gardens, and partnerships with local farmers and producers to give families what they need.
Real stories, real impact
After Rachel visits our Foxwood Food Center, she sets out to distribute the produce, canned goods, and pantry staples to others in her life. “I keep some of it,” Rachel says, “but I’m on a mostly plant-based diet, so I give away a lot of it, but I’m grateful to have it if I need it. Grateful that I don’t have to keep it all, and I’m in a position to help someone else by giving it out to people.”
Rachel
Neighbor
“Food, and the ability to give food, and share food, and have a meal with people, is a great thing,” Nancy says. She encourages anyone who needs food to ask for it and to not feel ashamed for asking. “It’s more than just food—it’s about respect, it’s about self-esteem, it’s about people.”
Nancy
Neighbor
“We have a lot of kids and families that do without, who have to bounce around from hotel to hotel,” says Cleveland High School Principal, Bob Pritchard. “Having an in-school pantry as a resource for them is invaluable for us.”
Cleveland High School
Partner
$2
provides
groceries for five meals
40
meals
are provided by one hour of volunteering
244
food drives
hosted by community leaders like you
This work is possible because of our community
Every meal we provide starts with someone like you. Whether you give time, donate funds, or partner with us, your involvement fuels healthy meals and lasting change across 20 counties.
Stories that feed change
Chattanooga Area Food Bank Welcomes New Board of Directors for FY25
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank welcomes seven members to its 2025 Board of Directors.
Employee Spotlight: Alexis Eaton, Programs Coordinator
Read more about Alexis's story, featured in our Autumn 2023 Newsletter!
Advocacy at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank
Two months ago, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank hired its first Director of Advocacy – that’s me, and I feel so fortunate and eager to conquer the challenge of developing an advocacy program to advance the mission of this organization. But if you are like a number of the people that I’ve met in the last couple months, you may be wondering what exactly advocacy means in the food bank setting.
Be the reason a neighbor has a full table
When we act as one community, we can ensure every neighbor has the food they need. Volunteer, donate, and be part of creating lasting change.
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