The Chattanooga Area Food Bank has received enough money in community donations to restart its Sack Pack program in eight counties where it recently was suspended because of a lack of funding.
"It has been an awe-inspiring and humbling experience to witness people from all walks of life, the corporate world and the media come out in droves to offer their support," said Gina Crumbliss, food bank president and CEO. "Having the funds to restart the Sack Pack Program for the remaining 19 weeks of the school year has been an absolute blessing to the 1,776 students who depend on this little bundle of nutritious food to eat over the weekend."
A private foundation provided seed money to encourage other major donors, but most online contributions online were for $100 or less, the release states.
One donor said that "she and her family decided to take the money they would normally spend on Christmas presents and donate it to the food bank for the Sack Pack program, instead."
"While the problem has been resolved for now, the challenge will be to design a cost effective means of serving these clients for the 2018-19 school year and beyond," food bank board Chairman John Clark said. "We are humbled by this outpouring of support and we hope there are individuals and businesses in the eight counties (Hamilton, Marion, Grundy, Sequatchie, Meigs, Polk, Van Buren and Walker) with the financial capability that will be inspired to adopt their area schools and [ensure] that the nutritional needs of students are met."
Donations to the food bank may be made by visiting www.chattfoodbank.org or calling Director of Development Sarah Aligo at 423-622-1800. Every $1 raised provides 4 meals, and 97 cents of every dollar goes to support food and programs, the release states.