Montgomery Area Food Bank Delivers ‘Mega’ Mobile Pantry to Family Guidance Center with Help from Working Woman’s Home Association Grant Award

0
1681

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (May 5, 2017) – – Montgomery Area Food Bank (MAFB) delivered more than 27 TONS of assistance early this morning which will provide assistance to more than 450 families through a Mobile Pantry distribution conducted by Family Guidance Center of Alabama (FGCA). 

This Mega Mobile Pantry/ Exercise, Nutrition and Diet (MP/END) Program delivery represents MAFB’s most efficient means of fighting hunger – in one place, at one time, and is part of a $15,000 grant award from Montgomery’s Working Woman’s Home Association (WWHA).

“The Family Guidance Center is one of our agencies, which has an existing Food Pantry on its premises,” said Jolene Kearns, who serves as MAFB’s Programs Development Manager.  “However, they also organize an annual Mobile Pantry n Montgomery, which has grown over the years.

“This year they have more than 450 pre-qualified families, so we knew we’d have to multiply our regular single MP distribution, which provides between 5 and 7 Tons of assistance,” added Kearns.  “While this isn’t the first time we’ve delivered a ‘Triple MP’, this is one of the largest single event deliveries we’ve made.  It’s exciting!  We’re going to be helping  approximately 1,200 People In Poverty (2.7 people per household/family average) with an estimated 500 of them (40%) being children ”

FGCA has been helping to strengthen families in Alabama since 1959. “As the needs of families change, the agency redesigns or establishes new services to meet those changing needs,” according to Sue Barrett, FGSA’a Assistant Executive Director. “Food insecurity has been a growing need among local families for many years.

“According to Kids Count 2016, as many as 24% of Montgomery County’s children face food insecurity issues every day. Child wellness and a hopeful future are dependent on adequate, sustained nutrition; it’s a cornerstone to healthy people and healthy communities.”

MEGA MOBILE PANTRY

As a local community agency FGCA, Montgomery joins hundreds of united community efforts participating in MAFB Community Outreach programs.  Agencies, almost 80% of which are faith-based, go through a strict screening process and are responsible for maintaining meticulous records of how they utilize the support they receive, as well as qualifications in food safety.

Today’s distribution marks the 11th year FGCA has hosted a Mobile Pantry, and today event is the largest of the agency’s three annual food outreach events for families throughout the state.

“It is the partnership and support of the Montgomery Area Food Bank that makes this event possible,” explained Barrett.  “The Food Bank has established itself as a premier food donation and distribution agency, “Feeding Hope Across Alabama” is a motto the Food Bank lives every day.

“We have vetted over 450 families who are eligible to receive food today, and we’re excited to provide nearly 27 tons of food for these families.  Through Montgomery Area’s Food Bank’s partnerships with agencies like ours, local families benefit greatly. ”

While MAFB may be a force multiplier for local community agencies, in order to do so, it continually gathers assets through means ranging from Food and Fund Dives of various sizes, and individual philanthropic support to wholesale and retail food distributor donations and corporate agreements often secured nationally by Feeding America® and executed locally throughout the national network.

In this case, the FGCA’s Mega MP/END was underwritten by part of a $15,000 grant award.  The Working Woman’s Home Association (WWHA) is the oldest continuing charity in Montgomery.  In 1881, a group of 39 Montgomery women met to form and organize a home for Working Women and the Helpless.  Each January WWHA distributes grant monies to agencies whose projects aid women, children, and the elderly. 

MEGA 10 –   MONTGOMERY, Ala. (May 5, 2017) – – Sue Barrett (center), Assistant Executive Director of Montgomery’s Family Guidance Center of Alabama (FGCA), guides George Washington Carver High School volunteers through the unpacking and staging process of today’s 27-ton Montgomery Area Food Bank (MAFB) Mobile Pantry distribution.  Scores of volunteers were mobilized to provide assistance to more than 1,200 neighbors in need, approximately 500 of which are children, in one place, at one time! 

MEGA MOBILE PANTRY

 

MEGA 12:  MONTGOMERY, Ala. (May 5, 2017) – – Sue Barrett (far left), Assistant Executive Director of Montgomery’s Family Guidance Center of Alabama (FGCA), guides George Washington Carver High School volunteers through the unpacking and staging process of today’s 27-ton Montgomery Area Food Bank (MAFB) Mobile Pantry distribution.  Scores of volunteers Max Federal Credit Union, Carver High School and Montgomery’s Family Guidance Center of Alabama (FGCA), were mobilized to provide assistance.  MAFB’s Mobile Pantry Program features the ability to deliver large amounts of food to large number of people in one place, at one time!  Today’s effort provided assistance to more than 1,200 individuals –  approximately 500 of which are children.

MEGA 15 – MONTGOMERY, Ala. (May 5, 2017) – – The culmination of a true Community Building effort…volunteers from Max Federal Credit Union, George Washington Carver and Montgomery’s Family Guidance Center of Alabama (FGCA), begin distribution of 27 tons of assistance to neighbors in need, but only after first taking delivery, unpacking and setting-up  today’s Montgomery Area Food Bank (MAFB) Mobile Pantry, which incidentally, was underwritten by a grant award from Montgomery’s Working Woman’s Home Association (WWHA).  MAFB’s Mobile Pantry Program features the ability to deliver large amounts of food to large number of people in one place, at one time!  Today’s effort provided assistance to more than 1,200  individuals –  approximately 500 of which are children.

 MEGA 20 – MONTGOMERY, Ala. (May 5, 2017) – – Delivering two Montgomery Area Food Bank (MAFB) truckloads of assistance in support of today’s Mobile Pantry distribution conducted by Family Guidance Center of Alabama (FGCA), required a great deal of unloading, and preparation before starting to distribute the more than 27 tons of assistance to more than 450 pre-qualified Montgomery families in need.  MAFB’s Mobile Pantry Program features the ability to deliver large amounts of food to large number of people in one place, at one time!  Today’s effort provided assistance to more than 1,200 individuals –  approximately 500 of which are children.

 MEGA 22 – MONTGOMERY, Ala. (May 5, 2017) – – The first of two Montgomery Area Food Bank (MAFB) truckloads of assistance arrived here early this morning in support of a Mobile Pantry distribution conducted by Family Guidance Center of Alabama (FGCA).  MAFB’s Mobile Pantry Program features the ability to deliver, what was in this case, more than 27 tons to more than 1,200 neighbors in need (approximately 500 of which are children) in one place, at one time!

All rights reserved, Gumptown Magazine. Copyright 2017. 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here