Feeding the Gulf Coast provides emergency food assistance programs and other support to non-profits, faith-based organizations and special programs along a 24-county service area spanning the central Gulf Coast. Feeding the Gulf Coast is a United Way member agency and a member of Feeding America.

Helping the people they serve receive access to healthy foods is critical to their mission. More than 367,300 individuals, including 107,660 children, struggle with food insecurity within the 24-county service area. This equates to 1 in 6 individuals and 1 in 5 children. 

In Alabama alone, 131,500 individuals face food insecurity, including nearly 41,300 children. This equates to 1 in 6 individuals and 1 in 4 children that struggle with food insecurity in Alabama.

The food bank operates multiple hunger relief and nutrition programs, including:

• Emergency Food Assistance Programs
• Summer Meals
• Afterschool Meals
• Backpack and School Pantries
• Disaster Relief
• Mobile Food Distributions
• Nutrition Education
• Importance of healthy food access and nutrition education

Infrastructure and Impact on Local Food Pantries

Feeding the Gulf Coast addresses hunger through various hunger-relief programs and distributes more than 32 million meals annually through its network of more than 800 community partners. 

Feeding the Gulf Coast community partners include:

• Agencies
• Child nutrition program partners
• Schools
• Community health organizations

Food is donated to Feeding the Gulf Coast by various donors, local retail partners, farmers, the USDA and community food drives. The food bank inspects the food for safety and then sorts and stores it until it is distributed to our network of partners.

How the Business Community Can Help

Small contributions make a tremendous, collective impact in ending hunger. Feeding the Gulf Coast and their partners rely on the generosity of volunteers and donors. For every $5 donated, Feeding the Gulf Coast is able to provide 25 meals. Funding to support the mission and programs of the organization is received from various sources which include grants, community partnerships and some government agencies as well as donations from corporations, civic organizations, foundations and individuals. For every $1 donated, 97-cents fund programs and food distribution. As a four star Charity Navigator rated charity, Feeding the Gulf Coast works to maximize all funding received. 

Feeding the Gulf Coast relies on food, feet and funds to achieve their mission:

• Food: Donations from retail partners, food drives and businesses
• Feet: Volunteer opportunities and impact
• Funds: Financial contributions and their impact (e.g., $5 = 25 meals)

The food bank is always looking for organizations interested in partnering and the Feeding the Gulf Coast team is always happy to discuss how they can make a better impact on the community through collaboration.

If you are a business looking to be a partner organization, contact Amanda Young at ayoung@feedingthegulfcoast for more information.

Some examples of past collaborations include:

• Mobile pantry distributions
• Retail store donors
• Pantries
• Soup kitchens
• Child nutrition sites
• Healthcare

Additionally, the food bank depends on volunteers to help with a variety of needs. Last year, more than 22,000 individuals and groups helped provide an estimated $3 million of paid staff and operation time by volunteering nearly 210,000 hours. Their mission is made possible because of partners, donors and volunteers who give of their time and resources.

Need Help?

If individuals need food assistance, they can visit feedingthegulfcoast.org, and use the Find Help feature. That tab allows people to put in their address and a list of agencies and operational hours near them will populate.

People can also call the Feeding the Gulf Coast offices at (888) 704-FOOD for assistance.