The mission of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama is to feed people in need today and foster collaborative solutions that will end hunger tomorrow. The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama serves a 12 county area: Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Walker, and Winston. In 1982, a grant of $100,000 from the Greater Birmingham Foundation made it possible for the Food Bank to open its doors. At that time, service was provided to Jefferson, Shelby, and Walker counties. Over the last few decades, the number of counties served by the food bank has increased from 3 to 12, and the number of agencies distributing food in Central Alabama has increased from 30 to over 250. We receive food through Feeding America (a national food bank network with more than 200 food bank members), from government agencies, national donors, local donors, and additional food is purchased with monies allocated in our budget. This food is distributed to nonprofit agencies and religious organizations that directly serve the needy through their own programs. These programs include emergency food pantries, shelters for the homeless, soup kitchens, residential facilities, and shelters for abused women and children. Any charitable, non-profit agency meeting the criteria of the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 © (3) may apply to become a Partner Agency of the Food Bank. The agency must then agree to distribute the food directly to the public at no charge. We also provide food directly through Mobile Pantries, our Kids Meals Campaign, and our End Senior Hunger Initiative, among other programs. Calendars of free food distributions can be found at www.feedingal.lorg/find-food.