Feeding Alabama

10/14/2026

What does it look like to lead Alabama’s hunger-relief network at a time of growing need and uncertainty?

In a new profile from AL.com, Feeding Alabama CEO Kim Lawkis shares more about the experiences that shaped her approach to this work, what she’s hearing from food banks and families across the state, and how Feeding Alabama is preparing for what comes next.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to share more of Kim’s story — and, importantly, to shine a light on the challenges and opportunities facing hunger relief in Alabama today.

Read the full profile from AL.com:
https://www.al.com/news/2026/10/meet-the-woman-leading-alabamas-hunger-relief-network-into-an-uncertain-future.html

Scottsboro native Kim Lawkis took over as CEO of Feeding Alabama this month, bringing more than a decade of food-banking experience to the role as demand for food assistance continues to grow.

10/14/2026

Feeding Alabama is proud to announce Kim Lawkis as our new Chief Executive Officer.

Kim has been an integral part of Feeding Alabama for years, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer and helping lead the growth of our programs, partnerships and statewide response efforts.

Her experience in food banking began on the front lines at Feeding the Gulf Coast, and throughout her career she has remained deeply connected to the families, food banks and communities at the heart of this work.

“I started on the front lines of food banking, so I know what a distribution day looks like and, more importantly, I know the families standing in those lines. We’ll keep doing what has always worked: listening to our neighbors, working together and making sure no one goes without the food they need.” — Kim Lawkis

As CEO, Kim will continue building on the work she has helped shape at Feeding Alabama — strengthening our network, supporting our eight member food banks and keeping Alabama families at the center of our work.
Kim succeeds founding CEO Laura Lester, whose leadership helped build Feeding Alabama into the statewide network it is today. We’re grateful for Laura’s tremendous legacy and excited to see Kim lead Feeding Alabama into its next chapter.

10/12/2026

In the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias, Feeding Alabama remains focused on helping our neighbors access food as communities recover.

The storm brought damaging winds, heavy rain and power outages to Alabama, creating additional challenges for families already facing hunger. For households dealing with spoiled groceries, storm damage or unexpected expenses, food assistance can provide essential support.

Our network of food banks is committed to supporting affected communities through recovery. Working together allows us to connect neighbors with local food resources as needs continue beyond the storm.

If you or someone you know needs food, visit https://hubs.ly/Q04zYvnl0 Contact the provider before traveling to confirm hours and availability, as storm impacts may affect operations.

Follow Feeding Alabama and your local food bank for updates on available resources and distributions. We’re here for our neighbors—for the immediate needs and the recovery ahead. 🧡

10/12/2026

📣 We’re hiring!

Feeding Alabama is looking for talented, mission-driven individuals to join our team and help strengthen the fight against hunger across our state.

We’re currently accepting applications for:
• Program & Policy Coordinator
• Administrative Specialist
• Summer Meals Initiative Intern

Interested in joining us? Visit https://hubs.ly/Q04zWxfN0 to view the full job descriptions.

To apply, email your resume to [email protected] and include the job title in the subject line.

Know someone who might be a great fit? Help us spread the word by sharing this post!

10/09/2026

IF THE STORM DISRUPTS YOUR FOOD SUPPLY, HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW.
A power outage or evacuation can mean losing more than electricity. For many families, it can mean losing groceries they cannot easily replace.
If your household is affected by the storm, here are a few steps to keep in mind:

1. Document food you lose. If a prolonged outage causes food in your refrigerator or freezer to spoil, consider taking photos and making a simple list of what you had to discard. If you receive SNAP benefits, keep an eye on updates from the Alabama Department of Human Resources for information about any storm-related assistance that may become available.

2. You can seek food help right away, even before a disaster is officially declared.
Use Feeding Alabama’s Food Finder to locate food assistance near you:
https://hubs.ly/Q04zP3z40
You can also dial 2-1-1 to connect with food, shelter and other local resources.

3. If your normal pantry is closed, look for updates before traveling.
Power outages, flooding and road conditions can temporarily change pantry hours or distribution locations. Emergency distributions may also be added as needs become clearer.

4. If you’ve been displaced, you can still ask for help.
If you are staying with family, at a shelter or temporarily in another community, use the Food Finder or 2-1-1 to identify resources near where you are staying.

5. Don’t take chances with food that may no longer be safe.
If refrigerated food has become too warm or food has come into contact with floodwater, it may need to be discarded. When in doubt, prioritize safety.

6. Keep checking for recovery resources.
Needs often change after a storm. Feeding Alabama and our food bank network will continue sharing information about emergency food distributions, food assistance and other resources as they become available.

🌦️ STAY WEATHER AWARE
Conditions can vary significantly across Alabama. Follow the National Weather Service office serving your area for localized forecasts, watches and warnings:
• US National Weather Service Mobile Alabama
• US National Weather Service Birmingham Alabama
• National Weather Service Huntsville
• US National Weather Service Tallahassee Florida
Your local NWS office can provide the most relevant information about timing, rainfall, wind, flooding and other hazards affecting your community.

10/08/2026

⚠️ ALABAMA: SCREENSHOT THIS BEFORE THE STORM

With severe weather expected to impact parts of our state, now is the time to prepare — especially in case you lose power or internet access.

NEED FOOD ASSISTANCE?
🥫 Find food near you:
Use Feeding Alabama’s Food Finder to locate food assistance in your community:
feedingalabama.org/need-help/
📞 Call 2-1-1:
If you need help finding food, shelter or other community resources, dial 2-1-1.

IF YOU PLAN TO VISIT A FOOD PANTRY
Storm conditions may change operating hours, distribution schedules or locations. Check with the pantry or food bank before traveling whenever possible.

BEFORE THE POWER GOES OUT
If you are able, prepare now with:
• Several days of drinking water
• Shelf-stable, ready-to-eat foods
• Foods that do not require refrigeration or cooking
• A manual can opener
• Baby formula or infant foods, if needed
• Medically necessary or specialty foods
• Pet food
• Coolers, ice and frozen gel packs
• Fully charged phones and portable chargers
Freeze containers of water and gel packs now. They can help keep food cold longer if you lose electricity.

IF YOU LOSE POWER
Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
An unopened refrigerator will generally keep food cold for about 4 hours.
A full freezer can maintain its temperature for about 48 hours — or about 24 hours if it is half full.
If the outage continues, move refrigerated foods to a cooler with enough ice or frozen gel packs to keep them at 40°F or below.
Never taste food to decide whether it is safe. When in doubt, throw it out.

IF YOUR AREA FLOODS
Do not eat food or drink water that may have come into contact with floodwater.

📱 Screenshot or save this post now so you have these resources even if you lose power or internet access.

Feeding Alabama is coordinating with our statewide network of food banks and will continue sharing food assistance and disaster response information as needs develop.

Please stay weather aware and follow instructions from your local emergency management officials.

10/08/2026

919,160 Alabamians faced hunger in 2024, including 1 in 4 children. Spread across all of them, the meal gap works out to about 190 missing meals per person each year. It's not every meal. It's the skipped lunch at the end of the month, the smaller portions when a bill comes due, the dinner that becomes cereal.

Give to help close the gap

10/07/2026

As Tropical Storm Isaias develops in the Gulf, Feeding Alabama and our network of food banks are preparing for potential impacts across our state.

We are in close communication with our food bank partners as they prepare to respond to the needs of their communities in the days ahead. In times of disaster, our network is ready to help ensure families have access to food, water and other critical resources — before, during and after the storm.

The forecast is still evolving, and we encourage Alabamians to stay weather aware and follow guidance from state and local emergency officials.

We’ll continue to share updates, including ways you can support disaster response efforts across Alabama as needs become clearer.

10/06/2026

After every paycheck, benefit, and pantry visit is counted, Alabama families facing hunger are still $624.9 million short on food each year. That's about 174.5 million missing meals. It's called the meal gap, and all month we're breaking down what it means for Alabama.

Follow along all month

09/29/2026

Today's the day. 🧡

Hunger Action Day, and the whole network moving at once.

We've spent this month laying out what the data says: 17.8% of Alabamians faced food insecurity in 2024. 919,160 people. Nearly half of everyone facing hunger nationally doesn't qualify for federal assistance. 81,800 Alabamians lost SNAP benefits over the past year.

Here's the part we've been building toward. None of that is weather. It's not something that happens to Alabama. It's a set of conditions people built, which means people can change them.

Assembly required. So — pick your piece:

🧡 GIVE. Your county's food bank turns a donation into far more food than you could buy yourself.

🧡 VOLUNTEER. Shifts are open at all eight member food banks right now.

🧡 SPEAK UP. We're grateful to partner with our elected officials on hunger, and they genuinely do hear from constituents. Tell them nutrition programs matter to Alabama families.

🧡 SHARE. Send this to one person. Awareness is the cheapest thing on this list.

Hunger doesn't stop at the county line — and neither does our advocacy.

Start here 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q04yB_wc0