HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — We know the Food Bank of North Alabama serves people constantly struggling to put food on the table. However, especially this past year, that snapshot has changed.
Our WZDX News reporter has a look at who the food bank serves in the Tennessee Valley.
"Feeding America saw that about 40% of the people who were seeking food assistance during the early days of the pandemic, had never saw food assistance before in their life," says Food Bank of North Alabama Development Director, Bobby Bozeman.
Bozeman says people from all walks of life are in need of food during the pandemic.
"They're wearing uniforms from the workplace. They're working two jobs, they're doing their best. And a lot of people that we're seeing, they may have been at one level pre-pandemic and then lost their job and now they've taken a lesser paying job afterwards," says Bozeman.
The Food Bank of North Alabama's outreach also includes Huntsville City Schools, such as Sonny Hereford, III Elementary.
"During the pandemic time - even those of us with the most have been in need of something, and food is one of those universal ways that we can connect over," says Sonny Hereford Elementary School Principal, Anthony Davison.
Davison says their food box program started last November and is distributed by the food bank's mobile pantry.
Every Thursday, students get their fruits and veggies during parent pick-up and when students are walking home.
"It's just a simple exchange but it is a powerful exchange because we're catching those families that are car-riders as they're pulling in and us making that offer to them," says Davison.
"I've even had some that have taken pictures of what they cooked and sent it back to us. So, that is what excites us," he added.
The food bank also serves other groups. "A lot of the people we serve are elderly. We have a federal program that we're doing that we do. I believe it's 300 food boxes a month to various local senior living communities," says Bozeman.
Even with giving free food, there's always a chance people may try to freeload.
"Any assistance you're going to do - there's always going to be somebody who is going to try to take advantage of that. But you can't turn away the people who are truly in need and spite them just to be concerned about the 1 percent of people that may be trying to freeload," says Bozeman.
Sonny Hereford Elementary, III School is also working with the food bank to make sure kids have food this summer.