We are delighted to announce that Melissa Blevins, President and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, has assumed the role of Feeding Georgia’s Board President, effective January 2024. The Chattanooga Area Food Bank serves nine counties in Georgia and increased distribution capacity in Georgia with a $2.4 million expansion of their Dalton distribution center which increased storage capacity, loading docks, and volunteer and outreach space.
Melissa’s dedication to serving our communities and her proven leadership within the food banking sphere make her an invaluable addition to Feeding Georgia’s team. With nearly a decade of experience in the food insecurity space, we are confident that Melissa will play a crucial role in advancing our collective mission. Blevins took on her current role at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank in 2020 and successfully led her team through and beyond the pandemic.
“We kept our doors open every single day, we did what we could do to distribute record numbers of groceries while doing our best to keep our staff, volunteers, and neighbors safe.” Then the strategy switched from reactive to proactive, and Melissa began to plan the food bank’s trajectory for life after the pandemic. “It was a pivotal moment for the food bank,” said Melissa. “Because we had been on this path of growth for so long—more pounds, more food, more, more, more—this was a pivotal moment where we came to the table and said maybe not more but better.”
Her vision for the future at Feeding Georgia is centered on fostering collaboration, resource-sharing, and strategic planning “I am honored to step into the role of Feeding Georgia’s Board President,” Melissa remarked. “We’re positioning ourselves to think more intently about those we serve, who have the courage to ask for help. How do we address equitable food access? How do we source more nutritious, more culturally and dietetically appropriate food? How do we bring stability to families in crisis faster?”
“For families who are in crisis every single day, our communities count on us to be here. We should always have food when one of our neighbors has the courage to ask for help.”
Melissa Blevins,President and CEO, Chattanooga Area Food Bank
Board President, Feeding Georgia
Ms. Blevins is also critically involved in creating a new state association of food banks in Tennessee. She says that the project gives her greater insight into what the future can hold at Feeding Georgia as well. “For instance, finding an Executive Director with the right qualities for the role, prioritizing the new association’s responsibilities, and forming the organizational structure are all being discussed as we shape this new association. It’s all wonderfully exciting that I can use my experience there to inform and enhance my work with Feeding Georgia.”
Melissa’s dedication to community service and her commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of Georgians facing food insecurity makes her well-suited for this leadership role. With her at the helm, Feeding Georgia is poised to make significant strides in the fight against hunger.
