Chi Markets
Planted this seed
The Crisis We're Facing • Food deserts force millions to travel miles for fresh produce—or settle for convenience store junk food • Corporate Food Control: Most grocery stores are controlled by a few corporations selling ultra-processed foods. Local, clean alternatives are scarce. • Government programs face cuts—SNAP, WIC, and TEFAP shutdowns leave vulnerable families without support • Rising costs make healthy eating feel impossible for working families • Food Insecurity Crisis: 733 million people worldwide (47 million Americans) lack access to nutritious food. Everything health-related starts with what you put in your gut. When families can't access clean food, we're talking about diabetes, heart disease, and generational health crises. Our Proven Solution For 14 years, we've partnered with 30+ local farms and collaborative partners to provide affordable subscription boxes starting at $25/week. We operate independently of politics—when government programs fail, we're still here. "I've watched families transform when they finally have access to real food. This isn't just about groceries—it's about dignity and hope." We have six new neighborhood pickup locations in Greater Chattanooga, with plans to reach 20+ communities over the next 12-18 months. Your donation directly creates: • Weekly Fresh Food for Families: $25 provides a week of produce from 30+ local farms we personally know and trust—delivered to your family or to those who need a "hand-up" • Expanded Community Giving: Last year we donated 100,000 pounds of LOCAL fresh food. Your support helps us double that through our "Fill the Community Fridge" program serving Chattanooga's most vulnerable neighbors with dignity • Access in Forgotten Neighborhoods: Pickup sites in areas where grocery stores won't go—so families can walk to fresh food instead of traveling miles or settling for convenience store junk • Technology That Removes Barriers: An easy-to-use online marketplace that delivers clean food to your doorstep or a nearby pickup location—no car required • A Blueprint for Other Communities: A replication playbook so cities nationwide can launch their own CHI Markets and end food insecurity locally Every dollar fights food injustice. Every donation feeds hope. — Bates Reed, Founder
Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
Every town and neighborhood that is interested in providing local, clean, nourishment to their neighbors within the Chattanooga region.
$125,000
Reprogramming minds that eat unhealthy foods and do not support the local Chattanooga economy.