Birmingham, AL, July 8, 2024
The Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children is pleased to announce the presentation of a $5,000 grant to Backyard Blessings, a community-based nonprofit organization in Sumiton, Alabama. This grant is part of the Coalition’s ongoing commitment to supporting initiatives that improve the health and well-being of mothers and children across the state.

Backyard Blessings is dedicated to combating food insecurity and providing essential resources to local families. Weekly, the organization distributes bags of food to needy children to ensure they have enough to eat over the weekend.

During the 2023–2024 school year, Backyard Blessings served 1,471 children, packed over 42,000 food bags, and distributed 212,755 meals. This grant will supplement the work in Walker County by Backyard Blessings to continue to feed
children there this summer. Due to rising food costs, Backyard Blessings has had to make adjustments to their food bags. “We were putting eight items in them, but we had to cut back to six. There’s some food items that we just can’t buy anymore. For instance, just a regular size can of chili—before the pandemic, we paid 89¢ for those. They’re up close to $2 now,” said Leneda Jones, Director of Backyard Blessings.

Backyard Blessings operates out of a back room at the Piggly Wiggly in Sumiton. Each week, 30 volunteers pack into the space to assemble and load 1,400 bags to be distributed to local schools. “While Piggly Wiggly does not charge Backyard Blessings for our space, a new location is badly needed,” Jones explained. “Our space here at Piggly Wiggly has enabled us to serve more children and do the work. But it is time to consider other options. We’re looking at a building right now.”

Jones also shared her vision for the future: “I have a vision for a space to be able to bring local students in and teach them life skills that they need to have to grow and improve their lives. If we had that building, we could do that kind of thing there, as well as pack food bags.”

The ACHMC encourages community involvement through monetary gifts through it’s donation page

(https://bit.ly/3LtNQgd), where gifts can be designated for the Walker 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, access to healthcare, and safe home environments.

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, http://www.achmc.com and the HELP Alabama app (available at Apple App Store and Google Play Store) provide an accessible listing of resources for Alabama mothers
and children.

ABOUT ACHMC

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.

Pictured left to right: Dale Tadlock, Director of Development and Community Engagement at the Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children; Leneda Jones, Director of Backyard Blessings; and Gary Furr, Executive Director of the Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children.

Contact Information:
Dale Tadlock
Director of Development and Community Engagement
205-490-5693
dale.tadlock@achmc.com
http://www.achmc.com

Dr. Gary Furr
Executive Director
gary.furr@achmc.com