pavomag.com

The USDA recently stated that 49 million Americans (which includes nearly 17 million children) are food insecure. It's no surprise that in these hard economic times (aka this darn recession), food banks see new faces waiting in line for food. As we round the holiday corner and folks begin thinking about volunteering in their communities, I would like to encourage Food Revival and Pavo folks to give a little differently this year. Here are some ideas to get you started:

FOOD BANKS:
Why is it when we begin collecting canned items for food drives, we see it as the perfect opportunity to do some winter cleaning and give away what we DON'T want in our cupboards? I've been guilty of packing up baked beans, evaporated milks, soups loaded with sodium, and enriched items I would never touch. This year, I am going to make an effort to be more thoughtful in my approach my CHOOSING items that are:
* Lower in Sodium
* Less sugary
* Healthier brands
* Organic and/or Sustainable brands
* Follows the food pyramid a little closer: Whole Grains, Less Saturated Fat, Less Sodium, Etc.
You may also consider:
* Including recipes that are more nutritious or attach instructions with whole wheat flour, etc.
* Contacting local farms for fresh produce/fruits and organizing pickup with your friends/family (see list of farmers below).
After all, everyone – no matter what your economic status is– deserves good-for-you food.

FOOD RECOVERY
Ah...it's that time of the year again: holiday office parties, church gatherings, supper club gift swapping, and any other party your friends are sure to come up with. At the end of each gathering, you are bound to have left overs. Rather than throwing it all away, consider contacting organizations in your area who pick up or "recover" food for use in homeless shelters, food banks, etc. All it takes is a phone call to arrange, so if your office administrator or party hostess is overwhelmed with party details, consider asking them if you can take the "recovery" part on. If your office and/or friends have the money to host a large gathering, consider yourselves thankful and share the wealth with those who are less fortunate.
Birmingham, Alabama Food Recovery: Magic City Harvest

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
A few months ago, a group of volunteers and friends helped me compile a detailed list of places in Birmingham, Alabama that offer food volunteer opportunities in and around the city. I'm reattaching the list to this post as a reminder should you need food services and/or would like to volunteer. Here is a detailed list of needs to get you started:

BIRMINGHAM AIDS OUTREACH, INC.

205 32nd St. South
322-4197
NEEDS: Food boxes and nutritional supplements, must have written documentation of positive HIV or AIDS Food closet for our clients (8/21/09 - nearly 800 active clients)
We give one big box of food to our clients each month.  The clients simply call and make an appointment.  While they are here, meeting with their Social Worker, they may get their food box.
We always accept food donations, and request non perishable canned or boxed food items.
NO frozen items
Birmingham AIDS Outreach is a non profit 501(c)(3) organization.  BAO was established in 1985, as the first AIDS Service Organization in Alabama.

CATHOLIC CENTER OF CONCERN

712 4th Court West
786-4388
Food boxes Monday-Thursday. Need ID & Utility bill or referral from agency

CHURCH OF THE RECONCILER

112 14th St. North
324-6402
Tues-Fri Breakfast/Snacks @9:30am. Sundays lunch at noon.
Provides support for obtaining food stamps

COLLAT JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES

Call 879.3438 - call for information.
 Food closet. Need referral from an agency.
We are always looking for individuals or groups to organize food drives for us, especially in the summer and at other non-holiday times of the year. We need volunteers who are willing to deliver food from pick-up sites to our food closet and to arrange and stock the food. As CJFS operates a “kosher-style” food closet, we request that people do not donate any meat or shellfish items.  Things like tuna and salmon are okay.

COMMUNITY KITCHENS

St. Andrews Episcopal Church

1024 12th Street South

251.3569
@St. Andrews
Monday - Saturday 12 noon-1pm, hot lunch inside. 
Sunday - sack lunch in UAB lot between 10th & 11th Street on 11th Avenue South.

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH (Woodlawn)

5712 1st Avenue North

251.6697
12noon

@ Grace Episcopal Church
Lunch 7 days @ 12:45 PM
Just visit website for info and volunteer opportunities

GREATER BIRMINGHAM MINISTRIES

2304 12th Ave. North

326-6821
Food Boxes to first 50 families
 Fridays 9:00am
Donations can be dropped off between the hours of 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. You may also call to schedule a pick up of large donations, at 326-6821, ask for Ronnie Moore.
See flyers on food pantry needs as well as volunteer opportunities.

THE FOUNDRY RESCUE MISSION & RECOVERY CENTER

1804 6th Avenue North, Bessemer

Micah Andrews
205.425.7737 ext 19
All donations and drop offs need to be cleared through my (Micah’s) office first. This is simply to make arrangements to receive the donations.
NOTE DIFFERENT ADDRESS FOR FOOD CONTRIBUTION DROP OFF!
Food boxes as available, call for application information We serve 235 men/women three times a day. These men and women are in our recovery program. Besides that we serve more than 100 individuals daily that come to us from the surrounding community who simply are in need. We also serve every week emergency food boxes for those who have longer term needs.
Our greatest volunteer need presently is on M-F from either 12-1:15 or 4-5:15 assisting in serving the community for lunch or dinner.
There are always needs for food donations.  As you might imagine, non-perishables are the best to work with in order to plan meals and such.  However, perishables are also a way to help us out. All can be dropped off at The Foundy Community Outreach Center at 608 18th St., Bessemer 35020.

JIMMIE HALE MISSION

3420 2nd Avenue North
P.O. Box 10472
Birmingham, AL 35202
Ph: 205.323.5878
Breakfast, lunch and dinner. 
7 days a week- (residents only)
*Lunch is Served
Our Lunch is Served program is a great way for business professionals to help during their lunch hour.  Most serving is completed within a half hour. Visit www.lunchisserved.eventbrite.com  to find out how you can help make a difference on your lunch hour and sign up for Lunch is Served.
We provide the food, you provide the helping hand and a smile!
* Conducting a Drive
Attached is a document that contains a list of suggested items for a food/product drive. These are items that we use daily and have a constant need for. Please let me know if you are interested in hosting a drive. No donation is too small.

MAGIC CITY HARVEST

P.O. Box 11292

Birmingham, Alabama 35202
PHONE // 205-591-FOOD (3663)

MEALS ON WHEELS

3712 4th Ave. South
592-0413
Delivery of midday meal to homebound and shut-ins.
Pick up meals about 11:00 a.m. near the Meals on Wheels route.  Route is planned to take an hour or less.

METRO WEST MINISTRIES

6101 Martin Luther King Dr., Fairfield
923-1545
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00AM - 12:00 Noon
Food Boxes  (must have picture ID and proof of income)

THE OLD FIREHOUSE SHELTER

1501 3rd Avenue North
252.9571
Breakfast 5:20 AM - 5 :40 AM (Residents only).
Lunch 11:45 AM -12:30 PM (Men, women, children).
Dinner 7:45PM - 8:30 PM (Residents only).

"The Table" - dinner Saturday and Sunday at 3:30 pm (Men, women, children)
Meal at 4 PM at Day Shelter on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday (men only
Food contributions.

PATHWAYS

409 Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd.

P (205)322-6854
Lunch : Monday - Friday (Must be checked in by10:30 AM)
Food boxes (Require referral and call ahead by an agency). 
Women only. As far as food needs go, about 50-60 women are served lunch each weekday.  These are women who are from other shelters, from Pathways Safe Haven and Parson’s Place Program, and those who live on the streets.  About 26 women are served dinner each weekday evening at Pathways.  These are all women who currently live at Pathways. And about 20-30 women are served lunch and dinner each weekend day, and these women are Pathways’ residents.
It would be wonderful if we could find groups to both provide and serve lunch or dinner any day of the week, though we welcome volunteers who want to simply come and serve the meals we provide on a daily basis.
We have a huge need for food-related donations as it is costly to provide lunch and dinner for so many daily.

SALVATION ARMY

2130 11th Avenue North

328.5656
Bread available while supply lasts.
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
Lunch Monday-Friday 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM.
Food Boxes available for home owners/renters on Wednesday & Thursday. Call for requirements.

SARDIS MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Rev. Eddie Gibson, Mission Ministries
205-786-4376 ext. 107
Food Pantry director is Austin Holyfield
Food services and clothing
Mon-Thurs. 10-12
Donations anytime except Saturdays; disaster times and non-holidays are greatest need.  Can call Rev. Gibson regarding volunteer opportunities

SOUTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH

1016 19TH Street South
933-8381
Food Bank Tuesdays @ 7 AM
For residents in the 35205 zip code only. Need picture ID and proof of residency.

THE TABLE at The Old Firehouse Shelter

1501 3rd Avenue North

252.9571
Food cooked and served by the community Saturday and Sunday, 3:30 PM 
Men, women and Children.
Church or community groups or individuals can coordinate the meal and bring it ready to serve.  You can do some cooking/warming at the Shelter.  The meal is family style with guests seated to be served.

UNITED WAY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK

107 Walter Davis Drive
Birmingham, AL 35209
205-942-8911

URBAN MINISTRY

1229 Cotton Avenue Southwest

781.0517
Please note contact persons for each of the three areas of volunterr opportunities
Lunch Monday - Thursday 12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM

Food Boxes Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:30 AM -
3:30 PM. Friday 9:30 AM - 12 NOON

Need picture I.D., social security cards of persons in household, affidavit from Food Stamp Office that you are not on food stamps. 
(Food Stamp Office located at 4500 5th Avenue South 599-6000). 
Proof of income (pay stub, layoff notice, SSI disability, affidavit from a Shelter). Limit of 4 times a year.
Our Food Pantry provides a 5-7 day supply of food for families who qualify up to four times a year.  Families qualify if they have $50.00 or less in (monthly) food stamps, provide a letter from the Food Stamp Office verifying this (or even if they do not receive Food Stamps), meet certain income requirements, and can provide a Social Security Card for each member of the household.
1.  We distribute food every weekday except Tuesdays from 9 am-12 noon.  Contact person is Phebe Booker (781-0517).
2.  Our Community Kitchen provides a good hot meal to all comers (usually 60-100 folks or so) five days a week from 12:00 Noon-1:00 p.m.  Contact person, and the finest cook in North America, is Belle Carlisle (781-0517).
 3.  We have recently started a Community Garden at McMillion Avenue and 12th Street, SW.  Individuals from the community are given a small plot (4' x 8') and help in growing staple foods.  Contacts for this are Ama Shambulia and/or Myron Pierre (781-0517).

I am truly thankful to have the opportunity to share all of this information with you. I hope you take some time to share it with your friends and family. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Comments