CULLMAN – No child should go hungry. That is a statement everyone can agree upon, and here in Cullman, local businesses and individuals are participating in Alabama Credit Union’s secret meals program to help. One of the largest supporters of the program is the Cullman Association of Realtors.
“What we’ve done is kind of adopted that program,” said Beverly Hinkle, association executive. “The last three years we have done an auction and all of the money we have received from selling those items goes to secret meals.”
Earlier in November, at the Cullman Association of Realtors luncheon, the public relations committee happily presented a check of $10,000 dollars to the Secret Meals for Hungry Children program. These donations will help many children in our county have food to eat when they are at home.
“We wanted to participate with this charity because it is for our kids,” said Hinkle. “I mean, kids are going hungry. We see a lot of charities that raise money for kids in other countries and overseas, but we need to take care of our kids, too.”
The program began when faculty at schools noticed children hiding food from lunch in their backpacks to take home to eat over the weekend. Children were safe from hunger during the week with school lunches, but for many when the weekend comes, food leaves. Thus, the secret meals program was formed to combat this sad situation, by working with local schools and faculty to discreetly send food home in the backpacks of children.
“We are feeding 115 kids across six different schools,” said Laurie Legg, supervisor for the Alabama Credit Union Cullman branch. “We need to raise approximately $18,400 dollars or $160 for the year per child. Our biggest donation throughout the year comes from Cullman Realtors Association, and then we have a bunch of individuals that will donate or sponsor a kid. We also have a lot of churches that donate, we actually just had a $600 donation from a women’s group.”
The program is constantly looking for ways to raise money to help more kids. From benefit car shows, to selling crafts at their branch office, the Alabama Credit Union is determined to raise the funds needed to help these children. You can purchase their holiday candy centerpieces still at the local branch office and help contribute to a great cause. For more information on this program and how you can help, visit the Alabama Credit Union at 1901 Main Ave SW, Cullman, AL 35055 or call 256-737-9885.
Originally published in the December 8, 2014 issue of CullmanSense print edition
