Chattanooga Diaper Hub | Sheryl Fletcher

Sometimes, all it takes is one retired nurse and a cool idea to support a community need. It's a good thing we have Sheryl Fletcher.

Do you believe basic hygiene shouldn't be a luxury?

The Chattanooga Diaper Hub (CDH), a community project of First Baptist Church and Metropolitan Ministries, provides diapers (because, well, babies!), feminine hygiene products, and other essentials to people who need support. Many Chattanooga families struggle to afford these necessities.

Our grant of $3,000 will fuel the Diaper Hub mission by providing:

• Diapers (of all shapes and sizes): $1,950 (Because everyone deserves a clean bottom!)

• Hygiene Products: $500 (Think feminine hygiene, toiletries, and incontinence supplies)

• Website Development: $300 (A website that rocks!)

• Office Supplies & National Network Membership: $250 (Gotta keep things running smoothly!)

Let's make Chattanooga a place where everyone has access to basic necessities! Donate to the Chattanooga Diaper Hub and be part of something awesome! You’ll need to go through the Net Resource Foundation, the fiscal sponsor, until CDH gets its nonprofit status.

Testing Drinking Water for Lead | UTC Master of Public Health Program

Lead in drinking water is bad. It can cause childhood lead poisoning which results in developmental delays, especially in children under the age of six. Lead in drinking water has been found in several schools in Hamilton County and has been addressed through remediation (water source taken out of service until fixed). Lead testing in schools is required by the state. However, lead testing is not required in childcare centers, where the most vulnerable children spend their time. The EPA funded the state of Tennessee five years ago to offer free lead testing of drinking water to licensed childcare centers. Unfortunately, very few centers have done the testing; only 3 in Hamilton County over a 5-year period of time through August 2022.

Enter UTC students. UTC has an agreement with TDEC and a small amount of funding of $12,750 to reach out to childcare centers about the free testing available. The funding pays students to work on the project ($15/hour). Since August 1st, they have been reaching out to centers in Hamilton County about the lead testing. Less than 20 centers agreed to test (of nearly 200), and only 9 actually sent water samples to the state lab. Students can collect the water samples and mail them to the lab, or Center staff can do it themselves. They have tried getting the word out through media outlets, including a front-page story in the Times Free Press.

Why aren’t centers agreeing to the free testing? Center directors are busy, it is not required, and it takes some work on their end. Also, if a center has elevated lead, they will be required to take the water source out of service until it is fixed – so there is a lot on the line for something that is not required.

Enter us. $1,500 went to buy $50 gift cards to incentivize the childcare center directors to participation in the program. With the gift cards, the focus will be on low-income areas first (South Chattanooga, East Lake, etc), where children are most at risk.

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.

Life Saving Equipment for CHA Police | Jessica Russell

We know what you’re thinking. Isn’t life saving equipment what the EMS is for? Yes. But sometimes police officers need it too. Many times, especially with gun violence, the EMS can’t respond to a victim until the scene is secure. Police are there even when it isn’t secure and, if they have the tools, can save lives with tourniquets and chest seals in their trunks.

Enter Jessica, spouse of a local CHA police officer. She applied for funds to purchase $3,000 worth of this life saving equipment (at a discount, mind you) and handed it out to officers at a Front Porch Lineup. Did you know you can host a Front Porch Lineup at your neighborhood meeting, residence or business? Read more about the processs here.

Care Closet Upgrade | Dalewood Middle School

One of the many services that Dalewood Middle School offers to their students is the Care Closet. The Care Closet consists of various uniform items, and personal care items, such as; deodorant, underwear, socks, feminine care products, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, just to name a few. The goal is to eliminate as many barriers to learning as possible. If parents are unable to afford uniform clothes, Dalewood provides them with as many items as they can to get them going. They also lend out clothes when students have accidents at school. Parents are often unable to leave jobs, and currently, due to the pandemic, they want to keep the number of people in the building as low as possible. The Care Closet enables Dalewood to provide students with what they need and send them back to class.

So how will the care closet get an upgrade? A commercial washer and dryer. Our $3,000 grant will come with a wash, rinse and spin cycle that is sure to refresh and brighten the smiles of students at Dalewood Middle. And who can we thank for this fresh new addition to Dalewood? Educator Brittany McAdoo. Thanks, Brittany.

Fall Flu Shot Clinic | Chambliss Center for Children

In these uncertain times, many of us are hyper focused on helping those negatively impacted by COVID. One way we can do that is through supporting the health of our neighbors. More than ever before, front-line workers are on our minds. These families are working so hard but unable to make a living wage and might not have health coverage for the flu shot, or transportation to access the flu shot. Our grant this month went to 120 free flu shots to those served by Chambliss Center for Children.

Not familiar with Chambliss Center for Children? They provide early childhood education and childcare for primarily low-income and single-parent families, foster care for children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect, and transitional living for teens aging out of foster care. The request for funds to do a free flu shot clinic request delivered on three things that are important to the UNFoundation. It made an immediate impact, it supported a vulnerable part of our community that had a big need, and it could be achieved with just $3,000. 120 shots x $25 = $3,000.

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.