Portland Street Community Corner

When we highlight that this initiative is autistic-led, we are emphasizing that it is built from the ground up by autistic individuals who understand the intersection of neurodiversity, sensory needs, and food access. Centering these voices allows us to create solutions that offer true inclusion, understanding, and dignity for everyone in our community.

​This is the perfect week to talk about autistic leadership, because Chattanooga’s very first Autistic Pride Day is happening this Saturday, June 20th (11a -3p Downtown Library on Broad Street). ​Come out to celebrate, connect, and meet some of the autistic leaders driving this work. Autistics for Safe Food will have a table set up, and we would love for you to stop by, chat with us, and learn more about what we are building together.

​In addition to the educational table, we (Autistics For Safe Food and Chattanooga Pride Food Coalition) are having a food and water drive at the event. Please consider bringing unopened bottled water and non-perishable foods to help support our neighbors. Every donation directly impacts our ongoing efforts.

​We look forward to seeing you this Saturday.

Food accessibility is about more than just filling shelves. It requires actively listening to the specific needs of neurodivergent individuals, which is why taking requests for safe foods and filling those requests to keep them stocked as much as possible is so vital for reliable nutrition.

​When a community understands these sensory needs and keeps safe foods available, it directly supports the health and well-being of the entire population. True community care means respecting these food requirements without judgment and adapting outreach to support everyone.

​By understanding the vital role these staple items play in daily nutrition and comfort, we can build a more supportive and dependable resource network.

​

We had some wonderful donations last night and today! Thank you to everyone who continues to assist and help us feed our community!

Autistic Pride Day is a choose your own adventure event and we hope everyone chooses to support the work of the Chatt Pride Food Coalition by bringing canned and dried goods and water so we can help keep the community pantries and fridges stocked. Community pantries and fridges are 24/7 barrier free ways for our community to access food and water.

We have unfortunately had issues with kids vandalizing the pantry lately. It started with canned items being smashed in the street. Then every time we had canned sodas they smashed those into the street as well, even a full 24 pack.

Today it escalated to them opening everything in the pantry and pouring it out all over the sidewalk.

For now, I have sodas inside my home, if anyone wants one...just knock on my door or ring my doorbell and I'll bring you one. I'm sorry it's come to this for just a little bit anyone donating soda, please drop it off on my patio for distribution. I'm hoping they get bored and leave our little corner alone with time. I will be posting a sign on the pantry letting everyone know the pantry and fridge are being monitored by the community who loves it and we won't tolerate vandalism. We will continue to feed our community, no matter what! Thank you for your understanding and patience! If you see anyone vandalizing the community corner, please please don't hesitate to contact us! Thank you!

Pics below of the mess, and cans we picked up.

DHS providing $120 summer food benefit to families in 13 counties The Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) announced it will provide a one-time $120 food benefit to eligible families in 13 counties through its Summer Nutrition Initiative.

No matter who you are, your safe foods are entirely valid. For many neurodivergent individuals, safe foods provide a reliable, predictable source of comfort and nutrition without the sensory overwhelm.

​Whether it's chicken nuggets, a certain brand of bread, or the exact same meal every single day—there is zero shame in eating what works for you. Your comfort, your sensory needs, and your well-being matter.

​Join us as we continue our Safe Food 101 series to share resources, reduce stigma, and celebrate the foods that keep us going.
​
​

I was not feeling well yesterday and unable to post, but I want to thank everyone who donated to the Portland Street Community Corner! The fridge, pantry, and little free library was restocked by multiple organizations yesterday! So THANK YOU!! We received more donations today as well of dog food and cat food and an Amazon order!! Please feel free to tag your organization that assisted in stocking everything up! We cannot do this without you!

Indivisible TAG
The Seed Theatre
Chattanooga Moms for Social Justice
Chattanooga Bridge Brigade
True Blue Hamilton County Friends
Autistic Pride Chattanooga

These are our current safe food requests.

​Huge Shout-Out: A massive thank you to everyone who offered to bring whiteboard markers, brought them by, or shared ideas on how to keep them from walking away. We greatly appreciate you! Because we have markers now, we have requests now.
​

Let's clear something up once and for all: safe food is real food.
​It does not matter if someone's safe food looks like "junk food," packaged snacks, or the exact same meal every single day to an outsider. What matters is that it is fuel, it is calories, and it is keeping a human being's body alive and nourished.
​For neurodivergent individuals, navigating sensory overload and executive dysfunction is exhausting. Judging what goes onto someone's plate only creates a barrier to eating. Food security means recognizing that whatever food a person can safely access, swallow, and digest is exactly what their body needs. No qualifiers, no elitism, and zero shame.
​