Charlie Hughes, Executive Director

cckdirector@chattanooga.net
Charlie began working for the Chattanooga Community Kitchen in 1989 as job developer and case manager for the Job Placement Center, a HUD grant test program that was new to the city; today this program is still operating at the Kitchen under the name HELP 2.  In 1991, Charlie became the Director of Operations.  In 1994 he became the Assistant Director, and was named Executive Director in 2000.  In his years here at the Community Kitchen, Charlie has worked in every department, at every level, through growth, challenge and triumph.  Charlie has been a member of White Oak Baptist Church for 35 years where he has served as Sunday School Director, Chairman of the Personnel Committee, Deacon, and Interfaith Hospitality Network Coordinator.  Charlie is a member of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare and serves on the Homeless Healthcare Center Board as well as the Mayor’s Faith-Based and Community Partnerships Advisory Council.  Charlie is an alumnus of Middle Tennessee State University where he met his wife Cindy.  They have been married for over 35 years and have two daughters, Mandy and Amber along with two grandsons, Jamie and Joshua.

Vanessa Blevins, Director of Finance 

cckfinance@chattanooga.net
Vanessa began working at the Community Kitchen in 1998.  A psychology major, she graduated from UTC with a Bachelors of Science.  As Director of Finance, Vanessa oversees the daily operations of the business office, performs many human resources tasks, and administrates several grants.  Vanessa finds her work enjoyable and believes it is a true mission field.  She states that “each day presents new obstacles which have grown my faith by learning to wait on and trust God to provide.”  Vanessa has been married to her husband and best friend Drew for more than 17 years.  They have two children, Andy and Ashlyn.  Vanessa and Drew attend New Beginnings Church in Jasper, Tennessee where they are Financial Restoration Ministry Leaders, working to help families have a better relationship with God and to lead debt free lives. 

Jens Christensen, Director of Marketing

cckm@chattanooga.net
Jens first started working at the Community Kitchen early in 2004 as a case manager at the Family Housing and Learning Center.  He has since worked in the HELP 2 job training program, and moved into the marketing department in 2007.  As Director of Marketing, Jens is responsible for publications, website, grant-writing, fundraisers, public relations, and media interaction; he also supervises the database and volunteer programs as well as assisting with general operations.  Jens graduated from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC where he helped form a student-run non-profit that assisted area residents at risk of losing their homes.  In his free time, Jens enjoys spending time with his daughter Maggie, son Ezra and their mother Amber; he also enjoys camping, outdoor activities, and restoring and driving vintage cars and motorcycles.

Tim Woods, Director of Operations

cckops@chattanooga.net
Tim first came to the Community Kitchen in 1991 as the acting security supervisor.  He has since been promoted to serve as the Director of Operations.  In this charge, Tim is responsible for all of the mechanical, maintenance and functional operations of the north side of the 700 block of 11th Street.  Tim oversees the recycling, food service, thrift store, and physical operations of the Community Kitchen, as well as overseeing entry and exit to the Family Housing and Learning Center.  He supervises a staff, the vast majority of which are formerly homeless, that manages to keep the Community Kitchen working.  In his personal time, Tim is very fond of three things: his wife, his birds, and his cruise ship vacations.

GENERAL

Edward Baugh, Family Housing Learning Center, Maintenance

Edward came to the Kitchen from the Orange Grove Center; he has been employed at the Family Housing and Learning Center, where he helps with custodial and maintenance needs, since 2003.  Edward often helps out at the front desk as well, receiving donations and assisting with maintenance.  Edward has six brothers and sisters and enjoys playing basketball and watching sports at home.

Faye Brantley, Consider the Lilies, Cashier Supervisor

Faye came to the Community Kitchen in 2003 after having worked at Memorial Hospital for over 30 years.  She has been a member of the Greater Saint John Missionary Baptist Church for 20 years where she sings in the choir, serves as a deaconess, and teaches the junior ladies Sunday School class.

Al Collins, Recycling/Donations, Truck Driver

Al came to us in 1999, looking for a place to start over. He completed sobriety and job training programs and soon started working at the Kitchen; it wasn't long before Al found his place in the truck. Al has a great energy and always seems to enjoy his job. For many people in the community, Al is the face of the Kitchen - he's often the only person they meet as he picks up donations and delivers recyclables throughout the city. Al is a huge UTK fan, loves to share a lau

Consider the Lilies, Associate

Several part-time associate positions are maintained in the thrift store; these positions are filled by individuals in our job training program that need a starting point for workforce reentry.

Brother Ron Fender, bsg, Day Center, Manager

More than likely, Brother Ron's will be the first face a homeless man, woman or child sees when they come to the Community Kitchen to begin seeking help. His charge is to shepherd them into the right program, right door or right place. While doing this, he also focuses on their spiritual needs, immediate physical needs, and, most importantly, listens to their story. It is not unusual for this initial bond to turn into a friendship lasting long after the client has found success. Brother Ron is a vowed member of the Brotherhood of Saint Gregory; his ministry includes assistance to those who live on the streets and foot care for the homeless. He also advocates for the homeless who are incarcerated and going through the judicial system as well as the homeless whose human rights have been violated. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Chattanooga Association of Clinical Pastoral Care and is also a Truth Commissioner for the local arm of the Human Rights Commission. Brother Ron came to the Community Kitchen in 2002 after years as an actor/director and teacher.

Annie Freeman, Consider the Lilies, Assistant Manager

Miss Annie started working at the thrift store as a Senior Aide in 2001 and was hired as a staff member later that year. She was formerly employed at Seaboard Farms for 18 Years. Miss Annie has the job of giving things away to those in need; our homeless clients often line up to see her, and she does her best to help them each day.

Food Services, Cook

The cook is responsible for preparing most of the 120,000+ meals we serve every year here at the Kitchen. This position is usually filled by a homeless client as they are ready to transition from entry level into a more intensive, full time position. As part of our job training and readiness program, the cook is often being prepared to move on into the larger community workforce, and hopefully become a successful member of society.

Food Services, Supervisor

The Food Services Supervisor is responsible for managing all of the activities of the Kitchen, including supervising both staff and volunteers.  Managing a kitchen that serves over 120,000 meals can be quite a challenge.  Coupling that challenge with the Kitchen’s mission and the necessity to construct meals out of what you have (not what you wish you had) makes this job especially interesting.

Food Services, Maintenance

The food services maintenance person is responsible for assisting with kitchen equipment maintenance and dish-washing.  This position is usually filled by a homeless client as they are ready to transition from entry level into a more intensive, full time position.  As part of our job training and readiness program, the maintenance person is often being prepared to move on into the larger community workforce, and hopefully become a successful member of society.

Food Services, Weekend Maintenance

This position is one of several that are filled by individuals involved in our job-training program.  This individual helps maintain and clean the food services equipment as well as washing dishes.  This position serves as a starting point for those needing experience to get back in the work-force.

LaDonna Guffey, SAFAH, Case Manager

LaDonna is a graduate of UTC with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work; she is married with 4 children and 3 grandchildren and is a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  LaDonna works with SAFAH which is a highly successful program that assists formerly homeless women and children in maintaining housing once it has been obtained.  LaDonna believes that it is a privilege to be part of the Community Kitchen - an organization that makes a positive impact on so many lives each and every day.

James Johnson, Recycling/Donations,

James came to the Kitchen in early 2004 in order to turn his life around.  He had been on the streets for years and had finally realized the need to start over.  After completing the VIP sobriety program, James entered HELP II and began getting ready to work.  Soon after, he started at the front desk accepting donations.  It wasn’t long before James moved up to Warehouseman, supervising the recycling operations.  In 2007, James met Nike; she quickly became his girlfriend and the two were married soon after.  The happy couple enjoys spending time together at their apartment, watching movies and walking.

Robert Lawrence, HELP II, Case Manager

Rob Lawrence, HELP II Case Manager, has worked in supported employment programs in Chattanooga including the AIM Center and Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation. He is a past president of the Southeast TN Job Placement Consortium, which links employers and local community resources to assist businesses in recruiting qualified candidates with disabilities to fill employment needs.  Before working for non-profits in social services, Rob managed and owned 3 restaurants in the Freight Depot.  Rob is a graduate of the Baylor School and the University of Georgia. He and his wife Cathy live on Lookout Mountain.

Crystal Little, Consider the Lilies, Assistant

Crystal has worked part-time at the thrift store since it first opened in 2000.  She became full time in 2004.  She assists Miss Annie in the giveaway program, doing her best to meet our clients’ most basic needs.  In her free time, Crystal enjoys music, singing, dancing and playing with her cats.

Kathy Long, Family Housing Learning Center, Case Manager

Kathy started working at the Community Kitchen as case manager at the Family Housing Learning Center in 2001.  She is also the lead coordinator for the Saint Catherine’s Women’s Shelter.  Kathy has to two children, Zach and Mikayla, along with a schnauzer named Dixie, an iguana named Bill and a Russian Dwarf Hamster named Otto.  In her spare time, Kathy enjoys helping others and watching reality TV.

Alma Murphy, Consider the Lilies, Associate

Miss Alma has been working at the thrift store since 2002, and feels that it is truly a great Christian place to work.  She loves and respects her coworkers and truly enjoys working here.  She believes that working here gives her a chance to meet other people and let them know someone loves and cares about them and is willing to listen to what they have to say.  Miss Alma believes that we lack nothing that God’s grace can’t give us.

Recycle, Donations (AM and PM)

We maintain several part-time entry level positions for homeless men and women involved in our job training program.  The men and women in these positions collect items (such as clothing, housewares, and recyclables) from donors pulling up in front of our building; they also sort recyclables.  These positions serve as an entry point to the workforce for many and as a bit of stability for others.

Jack Riggar, Development, Resource Specialist

Jack Riggar first came to the Community Kitchen in 1989 when he began developing an annual fund-raising campaign which became Fast Day; this campaign has since raised over $6 million dollars.  Jack has worked with numerous other social service and educational organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, where he has helped to fund the construction of over 150 houses.  He was Director of Development at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for five years, and continues to work on a consultant basis for several other local organizations.  Jack is a graduate of the University of Alabama and attended graduate school at the University of the South.

Saint Catherine’s Shelter Coordinators

Two to three shelter coordinators assist the lead coordinator at any time.  These positions are part time, and assist with overnight supervision at the shelter for women and children.

Saint Matthew’s Shelter Coordinators

Two to three shelter coordinators assist the lead coordinator at any time.  These positions are part time, and assist with overnight supervision at the shelter for men.

Paula Shipley, Office, Bookkeeper/Phones

Paula began working as the Community Kitchen’s bookkeeper in November, 2007.  Originally from Maryland, she has worked in banking for over 12 years.  Paula moved from Florida to Tennessee in January 2007.  She has been married to her husband, and best friend, for over 9 years.  Her husband is a pastor and together they work with 18-25 year old men and women at their church.  Paula feels that working at the Kitchen is a blessing because of the impact the Kitchen has on those in need.

Kathy Spangler, Marketing, Volunteer Coordinator

Kathy started working at the Kitchen in July 2003 as an office assistant.  She feels that God has blessed her with this job.  Kathy’s heart’s desire has always been to help others.  She and her husband Bob have 4 kids and 3 grandkids.  Kathy finds joy in working with other people who have a heart for this ministry and a love for God.  She references her work to Matthew 26: 35-36 “For I was hungry and you fed me.  I was thirsty and you gave me a drink.  I was a stranger and you invited me to your home.  I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me.  I was in prison and you visited me,” Matthew 26: 40 I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me.”

Marcia Wicken, Day Center, Triage

After teaching Special Education for many years, Marcia came to the Chattanooga Community Kitchen in 1990 to teach adult GED classes.  Since then, she has supervised the recycle program, been the volunteer coordinator, public relations coordinator, assisted with fund raising and done grant writing and publications.  Marcia has also been the lead coordinator for St. Catherine’s Night Shelter for Women and Children.  Having watched the Chattanooga Community Kitchen grow and change to better meet the needs of those we serve, Marcia finds it an exciting place to be.

Thelma Woods, HELP II, Case Manager

Thelma is an intake case manager with the HELP II Program.  She is housed at the Clinic where she is often the first point of contact with many clients.  Thelma is responsible for helping our clients with their basic needs, such as shelter, food, health care, employment and housing.  Change is a process.  When clients come to Thelma’s office, she emphasizes that change must occur in order to move from their present circumstances.  She also reminds them that the process takes time.  Thelma looks forward to those clients that are motivated and ready for change.  She finds those moments to be worth all the trials and tribulations that are part of her job.

Rod Young, Marketing/Development, Data Specialist

Rod is responsible for data entry and generating thank-you letters; he first started working at the Kitchen in 1998.  Rod is a licensed ham radio operator with an interest in Linux and computers.  He is also on the Coordinating Committee for the Green Party of Tennessee.  Rod’s favorite thing about the Kitchen is that it is an asset for social change.