Updated 3-17-20 10:18 a.m. with the below information from Cullman City Schools
CULLMAN, Ala. – With schools across the state temporarily closed due to the coronavirus, concerns have arisen about students from families in need, many of whom rely on their schools to supply much of their nutrition. Cullman County Board of Education (CCBOE) Superintendent Dr. Shane Barnette announced Monday morning that the county system has an organized plan in place to serve students until the start of their scheduled spring break March 30.
“We do have a plan in place,” he said. “Several churches have donated, several organizations have donated some non-perishable foods- very similar to the secret backpack program, things like that. We’re sending some of those home with kids today that need it, and then we’re also going to be providing more of those to different families as the need arises.”
Additionally, CCBOE will offer pickup meals this Wednesday and Friday, plus next Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On each day, two days’ worth of breakfasts and lunches will be distributed, so one distribution will supply participants with meals for two days.
Days and locations of CCBOE meal distribution
Dates:
- Wednesday, March 18
- Friday, March 20
- Monday, March 23
- Wednesday, Mar. 25
- Friday, March 27
Locations:
- Fairview High School
- Good Hope High School
- Hanceville High School
- Harmony School
- Holly Pond High School
- Vinemont High School
- West Point High School
Time: Drive-through meal pickup will be available from 10 a.m.-noon each day.
Barnette said the county system plans to conduct a phone survey to see how many participants the emergency program will get and how many meals to prepare.
The county system will not offer food during spring break, March 30 through April 6, as that break from school was already scheduled.
City system working on plan
Cullman City Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Patterson did not give details, but said, “We are working on plans to make food available.”
She also shared the following list of local food resources working with and/or recommended by the city system:
Free Pantry:
- St. Andrew’s United Methodist- Main Avenue
- Little Pantry, Fourth St. SE beside Mary Carter
Food Bank:
- Cullman Caring for Kids, 402 Arnold St. SE Cullman, 256-739-1111; Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays; 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.
- Master’s Hands (located at The Link of Cullman County) 708 Ninth St. SE Cullman, Tuesdays 1:30-4:30 p.m. & Thursdays 8:30-11:30 a.m.
- The Crossing (located at The Link) Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- The Caring Center- 1629 Second Ave. Cullman, Thursdays 5:30-7 p.m. 256-737-7757
- St Vincent DePaul- 201 Third Ave. SE Cullman; Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 9-11:45 a.m.; 256-737-5131
Church Pantry:
- First United Methodist Church of Cullman- 320 Third St. SE; Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (as available)
- First Baptist Church of Cullman- The Rock House 605 Third Ave. SW, Cullman; third Saturday of the month, 9-11 a.m. Behind First Baptist church on Third Avenue SW.
- Grace Episcopal Church- Beans & Rice Ministry- 305 Arnold St. NE Cullman; third Saturday of the month; 10 a.m.-noon
- Spirit Life Church of God- 1650 St. Joseph Drive NW, Cullman; 256-739-3326. Third Saturday of the month, 9-11 a.m.
Backpack Program / School Pantry:
- Knapsacks for Kids – First United Methodist Church-Packs on Thursday mornings at 10 a.m., 320 Third St. SE, Cullman, 35055 Serves East & West Elementary Schools
- Secret Meals- Alabama Credit Union- pick up from the Credit Union on Thursday mornings. Serves Cullman City Head Start & Cullman City Primary School.
- Bearcat Pantry- Contact Ashley Morris to secure school donations as needed.
- Desperation Snack Pantry Contact Linda Stone to secure school donations as needed.
Free Meals:
- The Link Community Meal- 708 Ninth St. SE, Cullman; fourth Thursday of each month 6-7:30 p.m.
- Grace Episcopal- Grace Café, 305 Arnold St. NE, Cullman; fourth Tuesday of the month; 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Summer Breakfast & Lunch Program- West Elementary
Cullman Caring for Kids open for business with minor modifications
Cullman Caring for Kids announced Monday that it is still distributing food with normal hours and days, though distribution will be done outdoors, in front of the office rather than inside.
Executive Director Javon Daniel told The Tribune, “We’re going to be available. You know we’ll help anybody. The first time they come in, as long as they’ve got a picture ID, we’ll help them.”
As of mid-afternoon Monday, the ministry had already served 42 area families.
Hanceville Knapsacks sending extra food
Hanceville Knapsacks for Kids spokesperson Nancy Horton informed The Tribune that her local group packed double bags for students to take home Monday, and said, “We are waiting to see what the school plan will be for pick up for lunchroom food. Once they make a determination, we will make arrangements to be there with Knapsacks for the students. We have to wait on the plan from them because of the rural locations and the ability for the student parents to get to the pickup location.”
Food Bank of North Alabama responds
The Food Bank of North Alabama supplies multiple area resource groups, including Cullman Caring for Kids, Carpenter’s Cabinet and others. In a note to The Tribune Monday afternoon, Executive Director Shirley Schofield wrote:
During this unprecedented pandemic where the nation and state have declared emergencies, the Food Bank of North Alabama is taking measures to ensure our seniors and children and families in need are served.
This is a fluid situation with things changing rapidly. As first responders, the Food Bank had a crisis response plan in place, which we have modified to include a pandemic.
We are coordinating with our network of partners throughout our 11-county service area to see what gaps there might be. We are balancing the need to keep our employees, partners and clients safe while maintaining food distributions.
We have many partners in the Cullman area that have mobilized to ensure our most vulnerable residents are served, and we support those efforts. We have purchased additional food to make available to our partners in the community. Our goal is to supplement not supplant the efforts already underway by our partners and others in the Cullman community.
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