The Chattanooga Fire Department is partnering with Hope for the Inner City and BBQ Rowe and Catering to bring a day of food, health and fellowship to East Chattanooga with the inaugural Mind, Body & BBQ.
The free gathering will be held Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hope for the Inner City, 1800 Roanoke Ave.
Organizers say it’s designed to promote health, strengthen community connections and provide resources to area residents in a welcoming atmosphere.
Activities will include Tours of Hope, health vendors and other community-focused activities. The first 100 guests also will receive free hot dogs and hamburgers.
The festival also will serve as the culmination of a weeklong food drive benefiting Hope for the Inner City’s food pantry.
From Sept. 19 through Sept. 25, residents are encouraged to donate nonperishable food items at any Chattanooga Fire Department station or at Hope for the Inner City.
Suggested donations include canned vegetables such as green beans, corn, sweet peas, mixed greens, turnip greens, collard greens and spinach. Other requested items include pork and beans, tomato and chicken noodle soup, pasta sauce and tuna.
The pantry also is seeking dry goods and baking staples, including 2-pound bags of cornmeal, all-purpose flour and white sugar; Jiffy corn muffin mix; 1-pound bags of white, pinto, black-eyed, black and lima beans; macaroni and cheese; Hamburger Helper; instant potatoes; spaghetti, penne and elbow pasta; ramen noodles; oatmeal; grits; cereal; applesauce and fruit cups.
Condiments such as mayonnaise, mustard, pickle relish and ketchup also are welcome.
“Every donation makes a difference,” organizers said, encouraging residents to drop off items during the Sept. 19–25 collection period to help stock the pantry and feed families in the community.
Hope for the Inner City is a faith-based nonprofit that has served East Chattanooga for more than five decades. Its work focuses on addressing poverty while providing programs and resources designed to promote economic, emotional and spiritual well-being.
The organization’s roots date to 1972, when Covenant College students began a neighborhood Bible study at the Mitchell Street YMCA. In 1976, Randy Nabors returned to Chattanooga to serve as director of the Inner City Mission, expanding outreach to vulnerable urban families.
A sister organization, Hope for Chattanooga, was established in 1987 to address practical community needs. In 2007, Inner City Ministries and Hope for Chattanooga merged to create Hope for the Inner City.
Under the leadership of Executive Director Anthony Watkins, the organization relaunched its core ministries beginning in 2020, placing renewed emphasis on long-term community development and responding to challenges facing East Chattanooga residents.
Today, Hope for the Inner City provides a range of services, including food distribution, bill assistance, job-readiness programs, urban farming initiatives, community meals and youth programs.
The organization also has a history of providing affordable health-related services. The Mercy Dental Clinic, founded in 1985 following a mission trip to Haiti by Dr. William Roy and Dr. Martin Long, became part of Hope for the Inner City and has provided deeply discounted dental care to adult residents.
According to Hope for the Inner City, East Chattanooga is home to approximately 15,000 residents and faces challenges including poverty, single-parent households, food insecurity, health concerns, educational disparities, limited employment opportunities and aging infrastructure.
The organization emphasizes collaboration with local churches, schools, businesses, nonprofits and individual supporters as a key part of its efforts to address those challenges.
“By working together, we combine resources, expertise, and passion to empower individuals and families in East Chattanooga to overcome barriers and build brighter futures,” the organization states.
The Mind, Body & BBQ reflects that collaborative approach by bringing public safety, community services, health resources and local food together for one day of connection.
For more information about the event or food donations, contact Hope for the Inner City at 423-698-3178.
Hope for the Inner City is located at 1800 Roanoke Ave. Its regular hours are Monday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Friday by appointment. Food distribution takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning at 11 a.m. while supplies last.