Food Bank CEO Brett Meredith Discusses Food Insecurity in Central Alabama

Rotarian Dave Wood and President Brenda Hackney with Brett Meredith.

Rotarian Eddie Miller contributes to the food drive benefitting the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama.

The Rotary Club of Birmingham recently welcomed Brett Meredith, Community Food Bank of Central Alabama CEO. Meredith recounted the history of the region’s only food bank, started 39 years ago when grocer Joe Bruno called Rotarian Dave Wood and asked him to pick up food in danger of going to waste to distribute to those in need. Meredith shared how CFB, part of the Feeding America network, now partners with 260 agencies, providing 18.25 million meals to 428,000 Alabama residents last year. Meredith explained that those served by CFB have close to 85% of their food need met through their income and government assistance, with the food bank aiming to satisfy the remaining gap. He described the process by which the food bank obtains food at low to no cost from suppliers, community partners, donors and the USDA. CFB employees and volunteers sort, evaluate, store and package food that is delivered to partner agencies who distribute it to those experiencing food insecurity at no cost. Meredith illustrated the increase in demand brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic and highlighted CFB’s emphasis on providing fresh produce to recipients.

“This year we made a commitment, and Feeding America helped pay for half of this commitment, of 18,000 boxes of fresh produce – 20 lb. boxes of produce weekly – for the entire year,” Meredith said. “We’re making a dent in helping with the healthful living of those who may not have a grocery store in their neighborhood. If you know anything about Birmingham, we have some food desserts. We’re trying to fill those gaps the best that we very much can.”

Meredith described CFB’s innovative programs, such as mobile food pantries, backpack programs that have been expanded into family markets, kids café summer programs now offered year-round, holiday food boxes, education initiatives, senior hunger and disaster relief programs. He outlined goals to build a new larger facility that will enable CFB to store and distribute enough food to meet the community need of providing 25 million meals annually.

“I firmly believe that folks need to have a safety net through places like the food bank,” Meredith explained. “Unless we put the stake in the ground as a community and a region, you’re going to continue to have tens of thousands of people suffer in silence. And we can do something about that. And we are doing something about that…We can’t change everything, but there are some things we can change. And unless we commit to doing it, then it won’t happen. And we are, as an organization, committed to doing it.”

During the month of November, RCB participated in a joint food drive with the Rotaract Club of Birmingham and the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham to help CFB meet its goal of providing 20,000 holiday food boxes to the community this year.