CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Caring for Kids (CCK) served an average of more than 600 area families through its food bank every month for the second half of 2019, and the new year does not promise any abatement of the need. Nor does CCK’s commitment to meeting that need falter.
CCK Director Javon Daniel told The Tribune that his organization helped more than 7,000 families and more than 14,000 individuals through the food bank during 2019, and CCK isn’t even a food charity.
More than a food bank
When people think of CCK, the term “food bank” often comes to mind, and with good reason: the organization distributes more than 8 tons of food per month to families in need. But how does a child advocacy group get into the grocery business?
Daniel explained, “If you have a hungry 2- or 3-year-old child, there’s no food in the house and you have no idea where that food to feed that child is going to come from, that child is crying, and they’re grumpy and they’re fussy. And if we can prevent one parent from being angry enough to strike that child, then the food bank has accomplished what we set out to do.
“It’s a preventative, it’s a proactive stance. And this happens a lot. Children are abused, especially younger children, when they’re not happy, and the parents have gone to their wits’ end and they just have to do something. We offer the alternative that, hey, you can come in here and we can give you enough food to last you for several days, to help you past that point.
“That one child may later wind up in the court system or in the DHR system. And if we can prevent that, that’s what we’re here for.”
CASA
CCK’s programs include Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Trained volunteers are assigned to specific cases by courts and conduct independent investigations into cases of abuse, to do whatever is in a child’s best interest.
Daniel described CASA volunteers as “the eyes and ears for the judge, because the judge cannot get out and do that in every case. But, more importantly, I think, is that they become the voice for the child, because children have very little to say about custody cases and abuse cases. It’s just important that they know that they have somebody who, their only purpose is to be there for that child. We don’t work for DHR; we don’t work for the attorneys. We are there as volunteers to help that child to get into a safe, permanent home as soon as possible.”
At the end of 2019 and into 2020, CASA is advocating for more than 70 children who are in the court system because of abuse and neglect, assisted and supported by 27 CASA volunteers.
“It’s about the heart”
Daniel had a very personal talk with The Tribune this week about CCK:
“Every year since Cullman Caring for Kids has been doing the food bank for United Way, our numbers have increased. In the 18 years that I have been associated-and I don’t want it to be about me; I want it to be about the people- it’s the community. It has always been about the community. When we need food and we let the community know that we need food, they come through. When we need the monetary support, the community comes through. It’s absolutely incredible at the giving, and just the spirit of the Cullman community.
“I’ve lived in other places in years past, especially when I was in service, but I’ve never seen a place like Cullman. My stepson and daughter-in-law gave us a book of early Cullman history, and I’ve been reading that the last week or so. It’s phenomenal how just a small mountaintop settlement grew to what it is today, and it’s because of the people. When there’s a need, the people are there.
“We have one sweet lady who has been donating to the food bank for a number of years; I can’t tell you exactly how many and I won’t use her name-she’ll know who she is! Something touched her heart and she started donating $10 a month; $10, we get a check every month from this sweet lady. And, after a while, something else touched her heart a little more. And now, every month, we get a $15 check from this sweet, precious lady. And people say, ‘Oh, that’s not much.’ It doesn’t seem like a tremendous amount of money, but it’s not about the dollar amount; it’s about the heart that she has for helping others.
“There are other examples of people. There’s a man that I have known since the early ‘70s. Every month, we get a check for $50 from this friend of mine, this very special guy. We just count on it; we just know that check is going to be there.
“I see things on TV: ‘Donate $19 a month’ or ‘Donate $11 a month.’ That’s what keeps places open and keeps them going. It’s the people who make that commitment to send $5 a month or $10 a month, or $20 a month every month, because the agency, the nonprofit, we count on that. That’s what keeps our doors open.
“Please don’t get me wrong: large donations are awesome! I mean they’re incredible; that’s what allows us to grow. But it’s people who make that commitment to dedicate: ‘’I’m going to send Cullman Caring for Kids ‘x’ number of dollars a month, and I’m going to do it every month.’
“Cullman Caring for Kids: our mission is that no child will ever be abused, and that no child will ever go to bed hungry. That’s our mission: that we will stop shaken baby syndrome, that we will do everything within our power and ability to stop child abuse and to make people more aware. That’s what we started with.
“I was at the very first meeting of a group of citizens concerned about kids that were falling between the cracks in the court system-this was 1988-and that has been the mission of Cullman Caring for Kids since that time. We added the ‘no child will go to bed hungry;’ we added ‘to stop shaken baby syndrome.’
“To me, an organization has to reevaluate every so often and say, ‘Okay, what else can we do? What else ties into this? What else can make this happen better or happen quicker or happen at all?’ It’s community, it’s the heart of the organization, and it’s the people who have the same drive.
“My heart is for kids, always has been. But it’s not about me. It’s about this community. This community has a heart for children, for those in need.”
In the CASA office hangs a photo of Hoss Benham, a Cullman County child who died from the effects of abuse inflicted on his first birthday. His mother and her one-time boyfriend recently pleaded guilty in his death and each received 40-year sentences.
“Every time I go in there,” said Daniel, “I see the picture of Hoss. And every time I see it, it makes me want to do more to stop child abuse, it makes me want to stop children from going to bed hungry, it makes me want to stop shaken baby syndrome, and it makes me want to help families that need help.
“We need people who have a passion; a passion, not just an idea but a passion about helping others. That’s how we keep our doors open. We have organizations that do fundraisers for us, that involve us in stuff. You know, we have events from time to time. But what it really comes down to is how much are you willing to give. How much are you willing to commit to make sure that these babies are not hurt or killed or hungry? What’s in your heart?”
Get involved!
Daniel said CCK needs financial donations. The organization welcomes food donations but has a partnership with the North Alabama Food Bank that allows it to purchase food in bulk at tremendous discounts as low as 14 cents per pound for a wide variety of goods. Those who wish to help can visit CCK’s website or Facebook page to donate online or call the office.
www.facebook.com/CullmanCaringForKids/
Office phone: 256-739-1111
The final word
At the end of his conversation with The Tribune this week, Daniel shared, “Toward the end of the year, we would see kids come into the food bank in shorts and T-shirts on cold days. We give away coats. People donate coats, we give away coats. Why? Because the kids need a coat. It’s the passion, man. It really is. It’s what’s deep in the heart. If it’s not there, they’re not going to be successful. If you’ve got that passion, there’s a place for you to help Cullman Caring for Kids, to help these children.”
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