HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — To better meet the increasing rates of food insecurity in the area, the Food Bank of North Alabama will be relocating to 225 Finney Dr. SW, Huntsville Ala., 35824. The Food Bank will be operating out of the new location effective Jan. 2, 2024.
The Food Bank of North Alabama will retain a space at its Vernon Avenue location in a reduced capacity that will operate only as a food pantry to serve the immediate neighborhood, which will be operational in early 2024.
“We already know, based on estimates from Feeding America, that we need to distribute another 3 million pounds of food into our 11-county coverage area,” said Shirley Schofield, CEO of the Food Bank of North Alabama. “And with communities across North Alabama experiencing massive growth, we know the need for food assistance will grow as well.”
During the past fiscal year, the Food Bank of North Alabama distributed more than 12 million pounds of food – or roughly 10 million meals – through its network of over 210 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters and through direct services such as mobile pantries, in-school pantries.
Due to the increase in need, the Food Bank distributed record amounts in October and November and saw higher-than-expected turnout at mobile pantry distributions. Most of the need, around 70 percent, is coming from families where at least one member is working.
“The economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic followed by inflation and rising costs, which we have all experienced at the grocery store, have meant more people are seeking food assistance than ever before,” Schofield said “We are seeing it, our partner agencies are seeing it. As Huntsville and all of North Alabama continues to grow we need to be ready to meet that need.”
Schofield added that she remains optimistic about the Food Bank’s ability to meet the rising need for food assistance given North Alabama’s giving spirit.
“We’re very lucky to be in a community that is incredibly generous. That has always defined the people of North Alabama. Whenever there is a need they always come forward to help,” said Schofield.
Food Bank of North Alabama Development Director Bobby Bozeman said they they do mostly warehousing and distribution to other food pantries, soup kitchens, and places like Manna House, Downtown Rescue Mission, and women's shelters. "So, you know, the food bank has been at our location on Vernon Avenue since 1990. We're we're really excited to be making this move. It's going to enable us to better serve the community. We'll have just a food pantry here, and then the warehousing distribution will be at Finney."
As the Rocket City continues to grow, this new facility will assist the Food Bank in continuing to effectively meet the needs of the community. "Over the past few years, we've been seeing an extraordinary amount of need in North Alabama." Both as a reaction to what happened during COVID and also the inflation afterwards. "But also, just as Huntsville has grown. We've just seen an increase in need. People tend to think, 'Oh, it's just a certain sector of the economy that's growing.' But any time you have a city experiencing growth, you're going to see growth across all different sectors. And so there's going to be, you know, more people seeking food assistance as Huntsville becomes a bigger city."