Chattanooga Gas’ Virtual Volunteers focus on feeding the hungry during the company’s annual Volunteer Week
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – May 28, 2020 – With COVID-19 restrictions limiting Chattanooga Gas employees’ ability to volunteer onsite at local nonprofits, but the region’s need for help growing by the day, leaders at the company knew they had to find creative ways to get engaged. When they learned that the Chattanooga Area Food Bank was seeing a 30% increase in need since the start of the pandemic, Chattanooga Gas created a new Virtual Volunteer program to enable employees to continue to serve together, even when many were working apart.
This month, the company hosted a food drive to provide vital supplies to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. While following public health guidelines, employees and their families dropped off food and vital supplies at company locations. All told, they donated a total of 500 pounds of nonperishable food items and nearly $1,000 in funds that to support the foodbank’s mission to make sure no local family goes hungry.
“Chattanooga Gas employees are keenly focused on supporting the community, beyond just providing safe, affordable, reliable and clean natural gas,” said Paul Leath, director of regional operations, Chattanooga Gas. “To us, Chattanooga resident are more than just customers – they are our friends and neighbors.”
Every dollar donated to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank helps to provide four meals. The funds raised by Chattanooga Gas purchased 3,080 meals in addition to the 500 pounds of food the company contributed.
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank will accept all nonperishable food, but is in urgent need of:
- Canned ready-to-eat meal such as ravioli, pork & beans, chili, beans and rice
- Canned fruits and vegetables such as peaches, pears, green beans, corn, peas
- Cereal, pasta, oatmeal and rice
- Canned protein such as beans, meats, chicken and fish
The employee food drive is just one part of Chattanooga Gas’ heightened support for area nonprofits responding to a greater need due to COVID-19 and the recent tornado. Earlier this spring, Chattanooga Gas and the Chattanooga Gas Foundation made a $50,000 donation from shareholder funds to support local organizations providing essential services and financial assistance to residents. Funding was also provided to the United Way of the Ocoee Region, The Caring Place and the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
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About Chattanooga Gas
Chattanooga Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Chattanooga Gas provides retail natural gas sales and transportation services to approximately 68,000 customers in Hamilton and Bradley counties in southeast Tennessee. The Chattanooga Gas service area includes the communities of Chattanooga, Cleveland, Red Bank, East Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain. For more information, please see chattanoogagas.com.
About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 700,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.
Media Contact:
Mekka Parish
Mobile: 404-387-8067 | msparish@southernco.com