Community Resources For Food Insecurity In Birmingham

Alabama is one of the most food insecure states in the country. Many factors over the past few years have only added to that food insecurity and the need for assistance from outside of the home in order to feed one's family. 

At this time of year, it can be even more stressful to provide for the basics of three nutritious meals a day. Thankfully there are numerous resources available in the Birmingham area whose sole purpose is to help those in need.

If you or anyone you know are finding themselves unsure about meals this winter, the following resources are here to help:

Community Foodbank of Central Alabama

This is your most important, comprehensive tool for finding food assistance in the Birmingham area. There are two ways to search this website to tailor your search to your needs. You can either search the map to see which resources are closest to you, or you can search by a calendar that shows which resources are distributing foods on specific days of the month. Clicking on those dates gives you specific information about times and place for the resource. 

Blazer Kitchen

Blazer Kitchen is the food pantry for University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) students and employees. You must have your student ID or Viva Health employee badge to participate. The Blazer Kitchen is located at 1613 11th Ave South. Click on this link to see hours of operation and to register for a shopping appointment. 

Firehouse Ministries

Firehouse Ministries, located at 626 2nd Ave North, serves hot meals every day to the homeless community in Birmingham. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. and is open to anyone who is in need. Dinner is served at 7:30 p.m. only to the men who have taken shelter within the Ministry for the night. Again, this is a free, hot meal served 365 days a year for anyone facing homelessness. 

The Ministry Center at Green Springs (MCGS)

Located at 2230 Green Springs Highway, MCGS is a food pantry that distributed pantry items to hundreds of people per month. Call 205-326-1211 and leave a message with your information and a call back number and volunteers will contact you about assistance. 

Check out One Roof to find resources for more soup kitchens and food pantries and other needs, like showers, shelters, clothing, and health.

By J. Michael Coe | Library Assistant Ⅲ, North Birmingham Regional Branch and Inglenook Branch Libraries