Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1257758
4 | r e d f c u.o r g Prior to the ongoing pandemic, Nourish Food Bank in Rutherford County served, on average, 500 families per month, reaching 1,160 individuals. COVID-19 pushed those numbers to more than 330 families per week and about 4,500 individuals. Ladawna Parham, CEO of Nourish Food Bank, said job loss due to COVID-19 has increased the number of families who don't have enough food for everyone. Nourish provided over 100,000 meals from March 1 to May 1 to those families. In addition, the food bank has partnered with other community organizations to distribute food and provide hot meals to vulnerable populations, such as the homeless and children. e Nourish Distribution Center, or HUB, has served as its command center of sorts. "e Nourish HUB has meant we had a home to move our family feeding program to when the county government closed our McFadden Community Center site during the COVID-19 crisis,'' said Parham. "e HUB has meant our community knows where to turn for help, where to direct their neighbors to when in crisis, and that they don't have to fear going hungry." She said the community has been generous with its time and resources. She has seen volunteers put themselves on the front lines of service – despite the risks – to make sure others in their community won't go hungry. Lori Cutler and Francela Salas, Redstone's Community and Business Development team in Murfreesboro, have both volunteered at Nourish during this time. "It has taken a village to accomplish what this organization has,'' said Cutler. ere were also many examples of people giving back when they were also in need: from the retired woman who gave Nourish her federal S M A L L B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T Seeking to Erase Fear of Hunger in Rutherford Co. Parham Nourish HUB drive-thru food distribution.