| Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Awards $5,000 Grant to West Alabama Food Bank for Summer Feeding Program Birmingham, AL – July 8, 2024 The Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children (ACHMC) has announced a pivotal $5,000 grant awarded to the West Alabama Food Bank, in partnership with the Sumter County School District Child Nutrition Program. This grant is dedicated to supporting the summer feeding program, filling a critical gap left by the Alabama legislature’s failure to fund such initiatives for 2024. The initiative aims to ensure children in Sumter County continue to receive essential nutrition during the summer months. Located in the Black Belt Region, Sumter County School District comprises three schools and operates under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), ensuring all enrolled students receive breakfast and lunch daily at no cost. During the 2023-2024 school year, the district’s Child Nutrition Program served a total of 237,561 meals, marking a significant effort to combat food insecurity among students. Dale Tadlock, Director of Development and Community Engagement, represented ACHMC in presenting the grant to Heather Shambry, Child Nutrition Program Director of Sumter County School District, alongside Jean Rykaczewski and Sheldrick McNeal, Executive Director and Associate Director of the West Alabama Food Bank, respectively. “The partnership between Sumter County Schools and the West Alabama Food Bank has been instrumental,” remarked Shambry. “Through initiatives like the Secret Meals/Backpack Meals program, we’ve steadily increased our support to students in need. Last school year alone, we expanded our reach to 60 students, providing crucial weekend meals thanks to partnerships and generous donations.” The ACHMC encourages community involvement through monetary gifts through it’s donation page (https://bit.ly/3LtNQgd), where gifts can be designated for the Sumter County program or other recipients of grants that will be announced in the upcoming weeks. The ACHMC recently announced its Ambassador program (https://bit.ly/3zn2iDE), inviting supporters to contribute monthly to learn and take action while sustaining ongoing efforts like these. The grant to the West Alabama Food Bank underscores ACHMC’s commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes through collaborative initiatives addressing food insecurity. The Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children (ACHMC) is a statewide organization dedicated to enhancing maternal and child health outcomes through advocacy, education, and community support. It’s website, www.achmc.com and the HELP Alabama app (available at Apple App ABOUT The Alabama Coalition For Healthy Mothers And Children is a not-for-profit organization that works in partnerships with all people, helping agencies, ministries and organizations who assist mothers and children in Alabama as they seek to better their lives, overcome poverty and improve their own lives and the lives of their families. Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Awards $5,000 Grant to West Alabama Food Bank for Summer Feeding Program Birmingham, AL – July 8, 2024 The Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children (ACHMC) has announced a pivotal $5,000 grant awarded to the West Alabama Food Bank, in partnership with the Sumter County School District Child Nutrition Program. This grant is dedicated to supporting the summer feeding program, filling a critical gap left by the Alabama legislature’s failure to fund such initiatives for 2024. The initiative aims to ensure children in Sumter County continue to receive essential nutrition during the summer months. Located in the Black Belt Region, Sumter County School District comprises three schools and operates under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), ensuring all enrolled students receive breakfast and lunch daily at no cost. During the 2023-2024 school year, the district’s Child Nutrition Program served a total of 237,561 meals, marking a significant effort to combat food insecurity among students. Dale Tadlock, Director of Development and Community Engagement, represented ACHMC in presenting the grant to Heather Shambry, Child Nutrition Program Director of Sumter County School District, alongside Jean Rykaczewski and Sheldrick McNeal, Executive Director and Associate Director of the West Alabama Food Bank, respectively. “The partnership between Sumter County Schools and the West Alabama Food Bank has been instrumental,” remarked Shambry. “Through initiatives like the Secret Meals/Backpack Meals program, we’ve steadily increased our support to students in need. Last school year alone, we expanded our reach to 60 students, providing crucial weekend meals thanks to partnerships and generous donations.” The ACHMC encourages community involvement through monetary gifts through it’s donation page (https://bit.ly/3LtNQgd), where gifts can be designated for the Sumter County program or other recipients of grants that will be announced in the upcoming weeks. The ACHMC recently announced its Ambassador program (https://bit.ly/3zn2iDE), inviting supporters to contribute monthly to learn and take action while sustaining ongoing efforts like these. The grant to the West Alabama Food Bank underscores ACHMC’s commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes through collaborative initiatives addressing food insecurity. The Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children (ACHMC) is a statewide organization dedicated to enhancing maternal and child health outcomes through advocacy, education, and community support. It’s website, www.achmc.com and the HELP Alabama app (available at Apple App ABOUT The Alabama Coalition For Healthy Mothers And Children is a not-for-profit organization that works in partnerships with all people, helping agencies, ministries and organizations who assist mothers and children in Alabama as they seek to better their lives, overcome poverty and improve their own lives and the lives of their families. PHOTO Pictured left to right: Sheldrick McNeal, Associate Director of the West Alabama Food Bank; Dale Tadlock, Director of Development and Community Engagement at ACHMC; Jean Rykaczewski, Executive Director of the West Alabama Food Bank, and Heather Shambry, Child Nutrition Program Director of Sumter County School District. Contact Information: Dale Tadlock Director of Development and Community Engagement 205-490-5693 dale.tadlock@achmc.com www.achmc.com Dr. Gary Furr Executive Director 205-790-4377 gary.furr@achmc.com |
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