CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Caring for Kids, a child abuse prevention and advocacy organization best known for its very busy food pantry in downtown Cullman, lived through a remarkable year of ups and downs in 2024. On the downside, CCK encountered massive needs across the county; on the upside, the group met needs on a massive scale.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is that our mission is not just helping families with food and basic needs, but is the prevention of child abuse and child abuse awareness,” said CCK Senior Director Javon Daniel, emphasizing that the food bank is there to alleviate food insecurity, one of the most common contributing factors to household tensions that can explode into violence.
By the numbers
In 2024 CCK:
- Served 10,239 families, 21,979 individuals in those families, 6321 of whom were children under the age of 18
- Processed and distributed 766,671 pounds of food, 359,880 pounds of which were donated. Through financial donations and an agreement with the North Alabama Food Bank, CCK was able to purchase large amounts of food at low cost.
- Took its Mobile Food Bank to Colony, Crane Hill, Baileyton and Wallace State Community College in Hanceville once each month
- Served 183 children involved in legal cases through its Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, with the help of 23 volunteers
The organization has seen tremendous growth in needs over the last few years. In 2020 CCK served 6,054 families and 11,608 individuals, and processed 490,616 pounds of food. The CASA program served 93 children in that year, and had a higher number of volunteers to do it.
“We expect to serve more families in 2025,” said Daniel, “due to the increase in population and need in the community. We hope to increase the number of children in our CASA program and maybe announce some new programs.”
Who’s helping?
CCK could not do everything it does without substantial community support.
Daniel said, “There are so many that I’m almost afraid to try to list them all. Of course, all of our monetary donors, everyone that donated food, Publix, Walmart store – both stores, Walmart Distribution, Warehouse Grocery – all stores in Cullman, Pepsi, Cullman Lions Club, Merchants Bank, Traditions Bank, Premier Bank, Citizens Bank, Peoples Bank, Cullman County and City Schools, Cullman County and the City of Cullman, and too many more to list.
“We have an amazing board of directors; I can’t say enough wonderful things about our staff; Steven Sutter, our director, is awesome.
“We want to thank everyone who has helped make this be a good year at Cullman Caring for Kids. Without the community’s help we could not help as many folks as we have been able to.”
Get involved
CCK works hard to keep its food pantry stocked. The organization can always use monetary donations, and if you’re on the way to the grocery store, the pantry’s high-volume items regularly include canned beans, canned vegetables, dried beans, cereal and rice. Food donations can be dropped off at CCK’s office, 402 Arnold St. NE, #W-1.
To get involved, visit www.cullmancaringforkids.com or www.facebook.com/CullmanCaringForKids.
