ELISABETH NEVITT

Contributor

The day is finally here. On Saturday, May 2, Marion County Community Ministry (MCCM) opened its brand-new facility at 412 5th Street in Jasper. The timing couldn’t be more meaningful, as this year marks MCCM’s 30th anniversary of serving our neighbors in need.

Founded in 1996 by local pastors and churches, MCCM was created to unite Marion County’s food banks under one roof and strengthen their collective impact. Its mission remains as vital as ever: to seek and serve Jesus Christ in all whom we meet, respecting the dignity of every client, and to answer the call to feed the hungry (Matthew 25:35).

A Community That Shows Up

None of this would be possible without you. MCCM receives no state or federal funding and operates entirely on donations, carried out by an all-volunteer staff with no paid positions. The generosity of Marion County residents is the engine behind everything we do, and the board is deeply grateful for the community’s steadfast support over three decades. We are truly blessed.

Neighbors in Need

Marion County’s poverty rate stands at 16.3%, above the national average of 12.5%, and the demand for MCCM’s services continues to climb. Currently, the ministry serves an average of 1,555 individuals and 700 households each month, with 3 to 10 new households added every single week. More than a quarter of those served are children; another 20% are seniors.

In 2022, MCCM distributed 8,132 boxes, a number that rose to 10,728 in 2023. While 2024 saw a dip to 8,831, demand surged again in 2025 with 12,136 boxes distributed. The cost of meeting that need has grown just as quickly, from $63,640 in 2024 to $167,504 in 2025, with $44,722 already spent through just the first quarter of 2026.

MCCM provides 1 to 3 boxes of food per household visit depending on family size, and purchases as much food as possible through the Chattanooga Area Food Bank and from local grocery partners as needed. No one who comes to us is turned away.

Our New Home

MCCM’s road to its new facility wasn’t without challenges. The ministry originally operated out of Owen’s Chapel Methodist Church in Sequatchie, a historic building more than 150 years old, until foundation issues rendered it unsafe. MCCM spent a year and a half in a temporary location at the Sequatchie Valley Baptist Association Building before finding its permanent new home. Despite multiple changes in location, our volunteers and community never wavered, and that dedication brought us to this moment.

How You Can Help

If you’d like to support MCCM, there are several easy ways to give:

– By mail: Marion County Community Ministry, P.O. Box 681, Sequatchie, TN 37374
– Online: MCCMFBGN.org
– In person: 412 5th Street, Jasper, TN, Tuesdays or Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to noon
– By email: mccmfbgn1@gmail.com

MCCM is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Every contribution goes directly to serving our neighbors.