HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Madison County Schools have teamed up with the Heart of the Valley YMCA to feed more families.
"We don't want anyone during this time to go without, and so together as a community, we get to work together to ensure no child is left hungry during this unprecedented time in our world," says Dr. Rachel Ballard, Director of Equity & Innovation at Madison County Schools.
On Monday, lunches and snacks were handed out at a new drive-thru location at Riverton Elementary School in Huntsville. Leaders and volunteers a The Y calls this the 'Brown Bag Bus' program.
"As we (YMCA) were looking at the community as the COVID crisis kicked in, we realized that with the schools closing down there was a major need to make sure kids in our most vulnerable communities weren't falling through the cracks," added Heart of the Valley YMCA President & CEO, Jerry Courtney.
Courtney says this program is modeled after the Montgomery YMCA Branch's mobile feeding program.
"The YMCA found a partner down in Montgomery that had a USDA contract to deliver meals reimbursable, and the Heart of the Valley here in Huntsville arranged with them to get a license to do the same thing here in Huntsville," added YMCA volunteer and Board Member of Friends of New Market, David Shrum.
The Friends of New Market arranged to have several volunteers from area churches lend a hand and include members from GracePointe Baptist Church, Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, New Market Baptist Church, Locust Grove Baptist Church, Hurricane Grove Baptist Church.
Courtney expects 400-500 meals and snacks to be passed out a day, in just Madison County alone.
Volunteers serve lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check out the YMCA partnership locations below:
Madison County Schools:
New Hope Elementary
Owens Cross Roads Elementary
Riverton Elementary
Soon to be serving:
Hazel Green Elementary
Harvest Elementary
Madison Cross Roads Elementary
Marshall County Schools:
Asbury Elementary
Douglas Elementary
Brindlee Mountain High School
Decatur City Schools:
Excel Center