Essential Items | Chattanooga Free Sto

What is the Chattanooga Free Store? It is a mutual aid organization located at 1701 Dodson Avenue, Suite C. The storefront is where anyone can access things like clothing, food, sexual health items, harm reduction supplies, and more, all for free and without having to show any form of ID. In order to access these same items elsewhere, you need money or an ID.

This local organization is a vital lifeline for community members in need. By expanding access to essential items, The Chattanooga Free Store is making a significant impact on the lives of those facing hardship.

With this grant, the Free Store will be able to increase its stock of essential items, ensuring that community members have consistent access to these necessities. By removing barriers to basic needs, the Free Store enables individuals and families to focus on other aspects of their lives, such as finding employment or pursuing education.

We commend The Chattanooga Free Store for their dedication to serving the community and congratulate them on this well-deserved $3,000 grant.

Grow Hope Urban Farm + Hope for the Inner City

Hope for the Inner City is an organization that serves those who are economically and/or spiritually poor in East Chattanooga by engaging, investing, and empowering them to be relieved of poverty for good. Part of what makes this area susceptible to remaining in the cycle of poverty is the lack of food systems in East Chattanooga. They strive to fight this through food distribution as well as their Grow Hope Urban Farm.

Our $3,000 grant went to purchase materials and supplies as well as rent machinery to move soil and compost. Material needs will also consist of seeds, plants, permanent beds, perennial borders, and pollinator strips for the 2023 season. Let’s get excited for the 37404 and 37406 community. This summer they can come together over produce, herbs and the journey to health equity.

Backpacks for Persons Experiencing Homelessness | East Ridge Community Food Pantry

Carolyn Tucker is the Director of the East Ridge Community Food Pantry. Their mission is to tackle food insecurity by giving away food to people in need on the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month. They also serve the people of East Ridge who are within walking distance and experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is a major issue in our city. Several people experiencing homelessness have reported to Carolyn the food they receive from the pantry gets stolen. The backpacks will make it easier to carry their food and protect it from others. Our $3,000 grant will go to 100+ backpacks with hygiene products, food and other items like can openers, eating utensils etc.

Chattanooga Community Fridge | Viridiana Marin

Chattanooga Community Fridge, the brainchild of Viridiana Marin, is up and running in Highland Park. Having previously worked at the Family Crisis Center as a bilingual advocate/fundraising coordinator, Viridiana has always been passionate about serving the community. With this first fridge already donated, our $915 was used for the materials needed to build the shelter around the fridge that will help protect it against the weather, sanitizing and cleaning materials, a security camera (to keep it safe), electricity, and fresh produce to jumpstart the project.

Neighborhood partners like La Paz and Gaining Ground Grocery, who also hosts the fridge, will ensure the fridge is on the radar of the community so fresh produce gets into the homes of those that might need it. Not only does it help those with food insecurity but it helps eliminate food waste in our community. Do you know the perfect location to have a community fridge to serve your neighborhood? We would be happy to put you in touch with Viridiana, just holla!

Growing More Food on Main St | Taking Root Community Garden

Being able to feed our working class families right now is more crucial than ever. Back in September 2018 we funded Taking Root Community Garden to build garden beds for refugees and Highland Park residents at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Main St. Consider this months grant phase 2, two years later. Our $3,000 went to build out more beds and add a rainwater cistern that are already being used for Fall planting. Growing familiar foods as well as the non judgmental, social interaction in a garden cannot be reproduced anywhere else. Making sure refugees who are new to our area can make a successful transition and become contributing members of the community will benefit Chattanooga as a whole.

Gaining Ground Grocery | Holly Martin

A grocery store in Highland Park? Yep. Holly Martin recently started the Chattanooga Sustainable Food Center, a non-profit which focuses on food access, education, and engagement in regional agriculture. Holly recently secured a location within the St. Andrew's Center in Highland Park for the operations of Gaining Ground Grocery to begin. A small, local food-focused grocery store, Gaining Ground will act like a brick and mortar farmers market, with extended hours and nutrition incentives for low income customers.

The two priorities of the grocery will be focused on working with local growers and making the food at the store affordable for the surrounding community. Gaining Ground will provide an outlet for fresh produce in a food desert where options for healthy food are very limited. The grocery space is walkable to Highland Park Commons, close to CARTA bus lines, includes a small parking lot, and features a handicap accessible ramp. Its intent is to be inclusive and welcoming to anyone that chooses to shop there. It will also intend to be guided by community input for featured products. You can take part in that feedback here.

COVID Curbside Connection | AIM Center

Art supplies + groceries for the win. AIM Center is a psychosocial rehabilitation, utilizing the Clubhouse Model, to offer employment, education, housing, socialization, and wellness opportunities for adults living with serious mental illness. They help adults in the Chattanooga community lead fulfilling and productive lives while successfully managing their mental health through engaging in meaningful work and relationships in the Clubhouse community.

Due to COVID-19 and the closure of the AIM Center since 3/17/20, members have continued to be engaged by staff through tele-health services, however, the majority of members are without internet access and operating without a personal cell phone. This leaves them isolated.

Curbside Connection is the solution program manager, Lucy White, had in mind. With our $3,000, a few key things will happen. Art supplies will be distributed to AIM Center member artists, gotta keep the creative juiced flowing to manage stress. Daily “Curbside Coffee and Connection” in AIM’s parking lot as well as six different group homes in which AIM Center Members reside. Weekly wellness walks with healthy snacks provided and weekly social distancing grill-outs at AIM Center’s four Housing Properties.

Budget breakdown is $2,500 for groceries, $300 for gas and $200 for art supplies. The 205 Chattanooga residents living with severe and persistent mental illness will greatly benefit from this outreach.

City Farms Grower Training Workshops | Joel Tippins

Justice through food? Just call him Justice Joel.  Joel Tippens’ involvement with urban agriculture in Chattanooga began in 2011 with the purpose of developing new food gardens with low-income residents of the city.  His work has been intentionally concentrated in historic, predominately African American neighborhoods of the center city and has included growing food in backyards, vacant lots, in schoolyards, on church lawns, and parking lots; in raised beds, buckets and tires, and even in the bed of an old pick-up truck! City Farms Grower Coalition, a new initiative will address issues of food justice through hands-on training workshops. City Farms is an urban farm school with a variety of campuses located all across Chattanooga. Each site provides training opportunities in a variety of urban farming applications. The education is informal but invaluable, with a curriculum informed by seasoned, experienced, local organic farmers. 

The $3,000 UNFoundation grant will launch the pilot project in the neighborhoods surrounding Glass Street in East Chattanooga with 10-12 participants. The grant award provides funding to facilitate four monthly hands-on Grower Training Workshops beginning in March and continuing in April, May, and June, as well as cover the costs of installing ten new raised bed gardens. Food sustains us and we can grow it ourselves. Thanks Joel.