A Quarterly Publication of Community Food Bank of Central Alabama

FALL NEWSLETTER2020

When restaurants closed due to COVID-19, many farmers suddenly found that their crops would go to waste without a new destination. No one wanted that food to be lost, especially during times of such severe need and difficulty. To address this challenge, the USDA implemented the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. This program allows the USDA to purchase agricultural products that would otherwise have been wasted. The products are then delivered to qualified nonprofits for distribution. The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama (CFBCA) is excited to be a Farmers to Families program participant.

The aim of Farmers to Families is to deliver these fresh products quickly to those who need them. To accomplish this goal, CFBCA joined with many of our partner agency sites for distributions. Thanks to their enthusiasm and many wonderful volunteers, CFBCA can rapidly move large quantities of produce, dairy, meats, and other foods to locations throughout our service area for fast distribution. The Farmers to Families distributions are offered on a regular schedule, so they provide enduring benefit to their communities. The distributions also follow careful health and safety guidelines for all involved.

2020 has seen disruptions to the food supply at a time when our neighbors could least afford it. Farmers to Families has been a lifeline, allowing CFBCA and our partner agencies to provide a steady supply of healthy, nutritious food to our service area. During one week in late June, CFBCA had 27 distributions. In the first 6 weeks of the program, 640,000 meals were provided to over 38,000 people. The need is great, but we are striving to meet it. We are grateful for the tireless work of those who join in the effort to end hunger.

We are grateful for the tireless work of those who join in the effort to end hunger.

Farmers to Families Program

The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama is pleased to announce the appointment of Brett Meredith as Chief Executive Officer effective May 4, 2020. Most recently, Brett served as Divisional Secretary for Business for The Salvation Army in Texas, where he was responsible for more than 20 employees, multiple departments, and budgets totaling more than $30 million including those for Disaster Responses. A strong leader known for his exceptional attention to detail, he has significant experience running complex nonprofits and establishing and growing strategic community partnerships. Prior to his tenure in Dallas, Texas, he held the positions of Regional Commander in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Regional Commander in Hampton Roads, Virginia; Regional Commander in Kerrville, Texas; and Commander/Corps Officer in Dallas, Texas. “I’m honored to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama,” said Meredith.

Welcome CFBCA’s New CEO

“I’m eager to join the Food Bank’s phenomenal staff to further its vital mission in serving the region.”

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“With over 80,000 children in Central Alabama at-risk of hunger, I’m eager to join the Food Bank’s phenomenal staff to further its vital mission in serving the region. In partnership with such an innovative, generous community, I believe we can meet this challenge and develop groundbreaking ways to bring healthy foods to families in need in Central Alabama.”

Rotary Clubs “Lift” the Food BankThe Community Food Bank of Central Alabama has been working harder than ever to meet the growing needs for food assistance in our area. In a normal year, CFBCA gathers and distributes around 16 million pounds of food throughout its 12-county service area. This year, the Food Bank is already well on track to surpass that number by the fall. “The COVID-19 pandemic has created a huge spike in requests for our services,” says Food Bank CEO Brett Meredith, “We’ve had to adapt quickly in order to meet the needs of our neighbors and get food out efficiently and safely.”

To distribute food at this scale requires some heavy equipment and warehouse space. Unfortunately, during this busiest of times, one of the Food Bank’s forklifts broke, making it difficult to pull and fill orders, load mobile pantry trucks, and unload donations. Luckily, Rotary Clubs across the Food Bank’s footprint stepped in to help. In a matter of days, 6 clubs raised over $7,000 to cover the cost of the forklift repair and provide preventative maintenance on the other machines. “The Rotary Clubs do so much for us and our community. We cannot thank them enough,” says Elizabeth Wix, CFBCA Director of Partnerships.

Rotary Clubs in the Food Bank’s service area have long been supporters of infrastructure needed to fulfill the mission. When expansion of programming caused a shortage in shelf space in the Food Bank warehouse, Rotary supplied a grant to purchase a newer, larger racking system. The latest forklift repair was facilitated by the Anniston Noon, Trussville, Downtown Birmingham, Birmingham Sunrise, Shades Valley, Jasper, and Vestavia Hills Rotary Clubs.

David WilsonPresidentMary Alice KlineVice PresidentGeorge W. BradfordTreasurer Ellie TaylorSecretary

David BellDr. Khalilah BrownDr. Anne-Laura CookR. Ed. Goodwin, IIIDr. Caroline HaradaWilliam OwensSusana SchulerDavid Wood

2020 Board of Directors

Terry SmithWilliam C. WoodF. Wayne Pate

Chairman’s Circle

W W W . F E E D I N G A L . O R G

107 Walter Davis DriveBirmingham, AL 35209

205-942-8911

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Between April and June 2020, Panera Bread partnered with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama to deliver free meals to Tarrant City Schools. Many people were suddenly faced with unexpected challenges during this time. Though restaurants were closing their doors due to coronavirus restrictions, Panera was looking for ways to help. CFBCA appreciates Panera’s generosity and willingness to serve.

Panera Bread provided enough meal packs to feed hundreds of people each day. Tarrant City Schools have been a tremendous program partner for CFBCA, and they were eager to distribute these meals to their community. By working together, we were able to provide fresh, delicious food when it was most needed. At a time of such uncertainty, when many found that their access to food was abruptly limited, CFBCA is truly thankful for friends and partners like these. Kelley Javinett, Child Nutrition Program Director for Tarrant City Schools, was also thankful for the cooperative effort. “The partnership with Panera and the CFBCA was a true gift. The families we were able to serve were so appreciative to receive tasty, healthy food that would provide a whole meal for their whole family. We were providing food boxes as well, but the Panera meals did not require any preparation on the part of the recipient; they were just able to grab and go. The staff who delivered to us daily were very generous and kind as well with their time and efforts,” she said.

It always takes a team effort to solve hunger, even during the days once thought of as “ordinary.” In moments of greater difficulty, that team effort is even more essential. The team includes volunteers who give of their time to make a true difference. It includes thoughtful people who recognize that their organizations can provide needed help. And it includes you. Together, we can solve hunger.

Panera Family Meals

“The partnership with Panera and the CFBCA was a true gift. The families we were able to serve were so appreciative to receive tasty, healthy food that would provide a whole meal for their whole family.”

Thank You to Our Supporters

Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust

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In Memory of...

In Honor of...Rich Bielen By Marji AbernathyHeather & Vicki Adams By Danny AdamsMarie Agee By Joanna AgeeClaire Oliver By Alecia ArchibaldTom & Pam Arenberg By Steven ArenbergRuth Lee By Fran AtkinsonClementine Atkinson By Marcie AtkinsonNancy Bailey By Carolyn BaileyThomas Hauser By Thomas BakerMarian Baker By Tom BakerSusan Barrett By Brian BarrettTim Vines By John BarthI AM GOD By Robert BashinskyBarbara Johnson By Ralph BeardenKiersten By Cole BensonAnn Benton By Cason BentonMary K & John Burke By Alex BeringerCommunity Food Bank Of Central Alabama By Shelley BiggsJohn Samford By Amy BlackFirst Responders By Jennifer Boylan

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