Alabama Childhood Food Solutions is a Bright Light of sustenance and smiles
Alabama Childhood Food Solutions serves 700 families per month. (contributed)
Feeding hungry children in central Alabama has always been on the mind of Gene Rogers, director of Alabama Childhood Food Solutions (ACFS).
The nonprofit tries to make sure no child in the eight counties it covers goes to bed hungry.
“The mission of Alabama Childhood Food Solutions is simple: It’s our desire to feed children when there is a need,” Rogers said. “We want to make sure that food insecurity is not a problem in central Alabama. As we do that, we believe this improves the development of the child to get through the weekend, so when they go back to school on Monday, they can be more successful academically.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has made things even more difficult as poor families are having to keep their children at home with few resources.
“COVID-19 has made things challenging, but we are rising to to meet this challenge,” Rogers said. “We are delivering more and our one-on-one time is limited. We will be in need for more funds as we all tackle this health pandemic and deal with it.”
Rogers credits the Alabama Power Foundation with helping by providing funding through the years.
“The Alabama Power Foundation has been one of our best partners. Their incredible support has enabled us to continue our mission of feeding the hungry kids all over our eight-county area,” Rogers said. “The folks at the Alabama Power Foundation have the same concerns we have about our children in Alabama.”
Alabama Childhood Food Solutions is a Bright Light in central Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
And while the social justice movement across the country has affected the work of ACFS and many other foundations, it hasn’t changed Rogers’ outlook.
“ACFS is a faith-based nonprofit, and it is our mission to treat all people with great respect and dignity,” he said. “We try to embody loving our neighbor regardless of their race, economic status or any other label. We love all people.”
The ACFS covers Talladega, Coosa, Shelby, Calhoun, St. Clair, Randolph, Chilton and Clay counties. Rogers said there are over 200,000 children in Alabama that are food-insecure, and over 20,000 children go to bed hungry when not in school that day.
“We serve about 700 families each month. We put about 75 pounds of groceries in a car and basically support or supplement their food needs for the month,” Rogers said. “We also send about 700-800 bags of food to Boys & Girls Clubs every two weeks. We partner with about 40 schools, where we are feeding 2,000-plus children weekly. Each month we are supporting about 2,000 schoolchildren, 700 or so Boys & Girls Club participants, and about 700 families.”
Even shopping on Amazon can help. ACFS is listed as one of the nonprofits to receive funds through AmazonSmile. They get 3% of a shopper’s transaction when specified as the recipient.
ACFS has been serving needs for a decade.
“Jim and Linda Jones started this about 10 years ago with 40 bags of food in a pickup truck and it has grown exponentially over the last 10 years. There are a lot of needs being met across our state by Alabama Childhood Food Solutions,” Rogers said.
In addition to donations and grants, ACFS volunteers help with various duties. Alabama Power Service Organization members have helped in the past and said they will continue.
“Alabama Power Service Organization volunteers have come on multiple occasions to help distribute food and fill bags for children in our coverage area. Alabama Power and Alabama Power Foundation have been invaluable in their support,” Rogers said.
When Rogers observes the results of the work he and ACFS do across the state, the rewards are immeasurable.
“It’s remarkable when you minister to a family, when you reach out and support a family that’s in the midst of a struggle, that doesn’t have the resources they need, and you provide a box of food for them. To see the look on their face, the appreciation that they have, it’s very rewarding for me personally and all of our volunteers, as well,” Rogers said. “We are in the business of putting smiles on the faces of children.”
To donate or volunteer, visit www.alabamachildhoodfood.com.
Alabama Bright Lights captures the stories, through words, pictures and video, of some of our state’s brightest lights who are working to make Alabama an even better place to live, work and play. Award-winning journalist Karim Shamsi-Basha tells their inspiring stories. Email him comments, as well as suggestions on people to profile, at karimshamsibasha@gmail.com.
