The primary activity of the Food Bank of East Alabama is the distributing food to non-profit agencies that reach out to people in need. The Food Bank has developed some special programs in response to identified community needs.
The Brown Bag Program supplies monthly supplementary groceries to seniors who live below the poverty level. One out of every four seniors in Alabama lives below the povery level. This program began in 1997 and has grown to include more than 1,000 seniors in four counties.
In the six counties served by the Food Bank, more than 1,100 babies are born into poverty each year. The Baby Manna Program is an emergency food program for infants and toddlers. Through donations and purchases, the Food Bank provides formula, baby food and diapers along with nutrition and WIC information.
The large freezer at the Food Bank plays a critical role in providing perishable goods to its agencies. In order to help the agencies handle frozen foods, the Food Bank bought chest-type freezers in 1999 and 2001 and made them available to agencies in the area. Thirty freezers are on loan to agencies as part of the Freezer Project.
The Food Bank converted a beer truck into a Mobile Food Pantry in 2001 to help the agencies serve hungry people directly from the truck. This distribution method eliminates many of the storage limitations including the lack of refrigerated and frozen storage.
The large cooler at the Food Bank allows it to have a Produce Program that makes fresh fruit, vegetables and other perishable food items available to the agencies. Last year more than 430 tons of produce were distributed.
Posted by foodbankofeastalabama 
