Alabama Credit Union - Secret Meals For Hungry Children

I help feed hungry children in my area with Secret Meals!

With one of the highest poverty rates in the country, 20 percent of Alabama children live below the poverty level. With many families relying on free or reduced-price meals from schools, weekends can be a tough time.

 
secret meals for hungry childrenLack of nutrition prevents students from learning and can cause physical and developmental problems. A growing number of these children urgently need the services provided by Alabama Credit Union’s Secret Meals program.

 To reduce the number of hungry children, Alabama Credit Union is partnering with regional food banks and volunteers to provide healthy weekend meals through Secret Meals for Hungry Children. We are dedicated to this program and the long-term effects we believe it will have.

 
Identifying Underfed Children

Students up to fifth grade are identified by school faculty, who watch for certain warning signs:

  • Eating everything that is available to them, especially early in the week.
  • Hoarding food as the weekend approaches.

About The Food Packs

Students receive food packs in their backpacks on the last day of school before a weekend or holiday. This is done anonymously to prevent the child from being singled out or made to feel uncomfortable. Parents or guardians are not usually notified to prevent the food being taken by an older child or adult. Each food pack contains items such as easy pull-tab cans, juices, crackers, etc. All items are child-friendly, nonperishable, easily consumed and vitamin-fortified. The pack’s weight makes it easy for young children to carry in their backpack.

food packs for hungry children given at school
These packs of food may be all of the nutrition these children receive during the weekend. A weekend is a long time to be hungry. 

How To Do Your Part

  • Enroll A School
    Please contact Dusti Monk at (205) 348-5946 or visit our Web site for more information.
  • As A Volunteer
    Many fundraising opportunities are scheduled through Alabama Credit Union’s Community Involvement Committee. If you’d like to volunteer your time, please contact Dusti Monk at     dmonk@AlabamaCU.com or (205) 348-5946.
  • Donate Funds
    You are invited to support the Secret Meals for Hungry Children program by donating money. The current cost to supply one child with a food pack each Friday for the entire school year is $120. To make a monetary donation:
    • Stop by any Alabama Credit Union location to make a donation
    • Make a check made payable to Alabama Credit Union’s Community Involvement Committee, RE: Secret Meals for Hungry Children Program. Mail to:
      Alabama Credit Union, Attn: Secret Meals, P.O. Box 862998 Tuscaloosa, AL 35486
    • Use convenient payroll deduction -- For a payroll deduction to be set up for each payroll check, please select the correct form below, fill it out and give it to your employer's payroll department.

    * North Alabama Form                                  *West Alabama Form                                       *Bay Area Form

Please help feed Hungry Children in your area. If you don’t have time to volunteer or money to give, donate canned foods to your local church or school for their food drives! Every little bit counts!