STIR and State of Confusion Restaurants Join with Chattanooga Community Kitchen to Help Those in Need
Charity Partners Program Extends Hospitality and Community Investment - left to right: Allen Corey, founder and chief executive officer, SquareOne Holding Company; Ward Southeard, general manager, State of Confusion; Fletcher Thompson, director of operations, SquareOne; David Costellow, interim chief executive officer, Chattanooga Community Kitchen; Vanessa Blevins, chief financial officer, Chattanooga Community Kitchen; Trish King, volunteer and church relations coordinator, Chattanooga Community Kitchen; and Myrandia Hankal, general manager, STIR Chattanooga.
Chattanooga-based restaurants STIR and State of Confusion recently donated more than $11,000 to charity partner Chattanooga Community Kitchen.
“The support of the restaurants through the SquareUp Foundation and patrons of Stir and State of Confusion allows the Chattanooga Community Kitchen to provide 2,000 meals and 2,500 individual shelter nights,” said Vanessa Blevins, chief financial officer for the Community Kitchen. She added their work is especially important at this time of year when warm meals and a place to come in from the elements is vital for all vulnerable neighbors. “We are very thankful for the continued opportunity to partner with STIR, State of Confusion and the SquareUp Foundation.”
The donation captured a portion of food sales and patron donations made during the month of November. Myrandia Hankal, general manager at STIR and Ward Southeard, general manager at State of Confusion, oversaw the Charity Partners program in each of their respective locations. “Customer service is front and center for us,” said Hankal. “Expanding that concept to include community service and team support is one more reason why I love what we do.”
Allen Corey, founder and chief executive officer of SquareOne Holding Company, parent company of the restaurants, explained that launching the SquareUp Foundation last year put an exclamation mark on the company’s commitment to the communities and stakeholders where SquareOne has operations. “The restaurants, holding company and foundation have core values that recognize collective success is found in the will and ability to support and invest in others. Our less fortunate and vulnerable neighbors suffering from hunger and homelessness need our support.”
Corey added the spirit of “hospitality for all” is exemplified in every initiative of the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. “We are humbled by their work and will continue to be a frontline advocate for their activities.”
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SquareOne Holding Company, based in Chattanooga, owns and operates restaurants and breweries throughout the Southeast. Among these, STIR is currently located in Chattanooga; Charlotte, North Carolina and Raleigh, North Carolina. Additional restaurants are State of Confusion in Chattanooga; Balter Beerworks in Knoxville, Tennessee; Strawberry Alley Ale Works in Clarksville, Tennessee; Blue Fish Restaurant & Oyster Bar in Jacksonville, Florida and Carolina Brewery in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro, NC. SquareOne also operates Top of the Rock Restaurant and Brewery in Jasper, Tennessee.
Founded by SquareOne Holding Company in 2020, the SquareUp Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. SquareUp manages partnerships between SquareOne restaurants and local charities, raising funds that aid the hungry, homeless, sick and disadvantaged. Additionally, through the HOPE Fund (Helping Our People in Emergencies) SquareUp provides grants to employees facing sudden financial hardship.
The Chattanooga Community Kitchen opened as a feeding program in 1982 when seven downtown churches partnered together to better meet the needs of Chattanooga’s growing homeless population. Since then, they have expanded to provide food and supportive services to the hungry, homeless and vulnerable of Chattanooga.
