Food Pantry Numbers Increase 40% in March 2020
Pantry on track to serve over 20,000 visits in FY19-20
As the COVID-19 Response widened to shut-downs and shel-
ter in place directives, many family members in our community
suddenly became unemployed. Financial stresses are com-
pounded when children and adults are home now, rather than
in school or the workplace. More food is consumed in the
home. All of those factors add up to record-setting March ser-
vice numbers. A total of 1,697 individuals were served in
March. This number represents 615 families. The March num-
bers are 40% above the number served in March 2019 and be-
comes the third month in FY19-20 that the Food Pantry has
shattered former records. Many of the families who visited in
March had not utilized the Food Pantry since November 2019.
This signals that the families have experiences a decline in in-
come as those served had not needed help with food purchas-
es in three to four months.
The Food Pantry’s seven month average for 2019-2020 is now
at 1,796 visits per month. This average monthly client total
would equal over 21,000 people served if the monthly totals
hold steady. Our highest yearly client total occurred in FY2016-
2017 (July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017) at 17,692 individuals served
for the year.
Even as the financial markets soared prior to COVID-19, Fan-
nin County had experienced an increase in the number of chil-
dren living in poverty. Statistics released in February indicate
that in 2017, 24.9% of our community’s children lived in pov-
erty. In 2018, that number had increased by over 2% to 27.2%
of our children living in poverty.
The Fannin County Chamber of Commerce reports that one-
third of jobs in Fannin are directly related to tourism and an-
other one-third are affected by tourism. With the closing of
many restaurants for weeks, along with the social distancing
for inside service that will be required when food service
opens, many of our working families are experiencing financial
hardships. We are ordering more food and serving families as
much as possible. We appreciate the donors who have helped
during this critical time. Want to contribute? Visit our website
at fannin.gafcp.org.
Summer Meals Planning for 2020 Program Needs
Faith Presbyterian Church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Temple
Baptist Church, Snack in a Backpack, the Chattanooga Area Food
Bank, Family Connection and other volunteers partnered to pro-
vide area children with almost 3,500 meal bags in Summer 2019.
Additionally, over 1,700 family bags containing produce and shelf
stable items were delivered. Meals were delivered on Mondays
and Thursdays throughout the summer in 2019. Family Connec-
tion also delivered family-sized boxes of cereal and 1/2-gallons of
milk to every site, gifting all children in the family with their own
cereal and milk.
Plans are being made now for the summer months of 2020. We
expect more demand this year due to many job losses as the
COVID-19 response lingers.
If you would like to become involved with Summer Meals, con-
tact Sylvia Goodyear at [email protected]. If you would like to
donate to offset the cost of the Summer Meal program, Snack in a
Backpack is accepting donations on behalf of the group at: snack-
inabackpack.org
Connecting Hope
And Help
As we experience the
changes of COVID-19,
many people in our com-
munity need help. Fortu-
nately, our community has
many organizations who
help those in need. Many
community members are reaching out to volunteer, do-
nate, and help wherever possible. It was those thoughts
and the spirit of connecting hope and help that led B. Ali-
son Sosebee, District Attorney of the Appalachian Judicial
Circuit, to produce and purchase signs reading “In God We
Trust.” Sosebee hopes that as people see the signs posted
around town, they are reminded that there is hope for
those in need and there are organizations who need help
and donations now to serve those in need.
“When people read ‘In God We Trust’ signs, they can be
reminded of how important help really is,” Sosebee said.
These signs placed throughout Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens
Counties, along with Polk County, TN have become a sim-
ple thank you to those providing help and a reminder
there is always hope!
Our Community Gives...
When stores and restaurants were directed to change op-
erations, our local Starbucks decided to take a break. Store
manager, Jonathan Barnes (pictured on the right with Pan-
try Manager Greg Gelp) knew exactly where the remaining
food in stock was going! He donated to the Food Pan-
try...and the food filled our van! Starbucks also provided a
$1,000 grant to Family Connection in January.
Each year, Tri-State Communications conducts a coat drive.
Pictured lower left is Jennifer Allen (Right) showing Sherry
Morris, FCFC Director, the carload of blankets and coats
that were collected. Coats and blankets are given to fami-
lies free of charge at Family Connection.
We frequently update our
events & share information
on FB. Check us out!
Connections, Winter/Spring 2019-20, Page 5