Food Supply Resources for Alabamians During (and After) the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 crisis is a new type of challenge for Americans. People all over the country are worried about their loved ones, and how they’re going to make ends meet. Recently, news reports have started airing that say the country could be facing food shortages soon, since many large-scale agribusinesses are unable to get their products to market.

Alabama is feeling that pressure too. Approximately 1.8 million Alabamians live in areas of the state in which there is not a readily available supply of fresh food – a sobering statistic. No one in Alabama should go without healthy food choices. Luckily, there are groups all over the state who are dedicated to helping local communities get the healthy food they need, when they need it.

The Food Bank of North Alabama is located in Huntsville, and has been serving the community since 1984. They supply close to 9 million pounds of food each year to 11 different counties, and partner with 24 different organizations in Huntsville alone.

You should contact these organizations, or look up their websites (when applicable) to find out which days they are distributing food:

Salvation Army- Huntsville 305 Seminole Dr SW Huntsville, AL 35805 Website	Wrestling the Odds @ Hope Community Church 1111 Pulaski Pike NW Huntsville, AL 35805 256.289.3474	Metropolitan Community Worship Center 1116 Church St. Huntsville, AL 35801 256-683-9038	Freedom House Church 403 Treymore Avenue NW Huntsville, AL 35811 256.293.7826
HAP Huntsville Assistance Program 1001 Monroe Street SW Huntsville, AL 35801 256-539-2320 Website	Mt. Calvary SDA 1100 Meadow Drive Huntsville, AL 35816 256-384-7754	Rose of Sharon 723 Arcadia Cir NW Huntsville, AL 35810 256-536-2970 Website	Next Generation Giving 3409 Venona Ave NW Huntsville, AL 35810 (256) 722- 1432
Manna House 2110 Memorial Pkwy. SW Huntsville, AL 35801 256-503-4848	St. Paul United Methodist Church 3250 Dunn Drive Huntsville, AL 35805 256-534-2424	Risen Life Church 2212 Jordan Ln SW Huntsville, AL 35805 205-433-9493 Website	St. Luke Christian Church 1800 Sparkman Drive Huntsville, AL 35816 256-721-1544
Life Church Huntsville 2300 S. Memorial Parkway SW Huntsville, AL 35801 256-852-5580 Website	Ministerio Restauracion Internacional “Bread & Love Ministry” 2998 University Dr. NW Huntsville, AL 35816 256-288-3503	Wellstone Ctr CARES Pantry 4040 S. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35802 256-533-1970	Fellowship of Faith 3703 Memorial Parkway NW Huntsville, AL 35810
Lincoln Church of Christ 1307 Meridian St. Huntsville, AL 35801 256-536-7211	Valley Gardens Activity Center 3601 Bob Wallace Av. Huntsville, AL 35805 256.539.3300	Downtown Rescue Mission 1400 Evangel Drive Huntsville, AL 35816 256-536-2441 Website	Fellowship Presbyterian Church 3406 Meridian St. Huntsville, AL 35811 256-539-2418
St. Joseph Catholic Church- St. Vincent dePaul 2300 Beasley Avenue Huntsville, AL 35816 256-539-7476	First Assembly of God: House of Every Nation 3700 Bob Wallace Huntsville, AL 35805 256.783.0166	First Seventh Day Adventist Church Food Pantry 399 A Executive Drive Hunstville, AL 35816 256-489-1673 Website	Heaven’s Store House 5500 Adventist Blvd Huntsville, AL 35896 256-837-1255 Website

In addition to these organizations, Alabama is also part of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The Pandemic EBT helps families ensure their children have healthy food to eat. The program will:

• Allow parents and guardians to pick up meals to bring home to their kids;
• Temporarily waive meal times requirements to make it easier to pick up multiple-days’ worth of meals at once;
• Allow meals to be served in non-congregate settings to support social distancing;
• Waive the requirement that afterschool meals and snacks served through certain programs be accompanied by educational activities to minimize exposure to the novel coronavirus; and
• Allow states, on an individual state-by-state basis, to serve free meals to children in all areas, rather than only those in areas where at least half of students receive free or reduced-price meals.

You can learn more about the Pandemic EBT program here.

Additional organizations outside of North Alabama

If your loved ones live outside of North Alabama, there are organizations that can help them, too. Community Food Bank of Central Alabama helps support families in the state and provides food for over 200 partner agencies such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.

The West Alabama Food Bank works throughout the year to bring hunger to an end by receiving donations, and storing and delivering food in a safe manner to various hunger relief efforts. This food bank operates a 52,000 square foot warehouse with frozen storage in an onsite cooler.

Finding healthy food options when the pandemic ends

Things are hard now because of COVID-19, but we know that they can be hard for some families even when there is no pandemic. Alabama has taken steps to make sure you can get the good food you need for you and your family. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System offers a wealth of resources for nutrition and health, and the Alabama Farmers Market Authority offers a map of markets in every county.

Martin & Helms is here to help the citizens of the communities we serve throughout Alabama. We are here to provide you with support if you need help during this trying time. Please call us in Huntsville or Decatur at 256.539.1990 or take a moment to send us a message through our contact form. We serve North Alabama, including Madison and Athens, and throughout the Tennessee Valley.