A Thanksgiving food drive at our Maplesville branch in 2018 has only kept growing. The community’s response to this food drive, paired with our team’s desire to give back to those around them, inspired starting a community-run food bank. Backed by the city of Maplesville, Guardian opened a small food bank in the Sheriff’s Office.
They provided upwards of 40 families per week with food boxes in the immediate weeks after opening. Demand, however, quickly outweighed supply and the food bank reduced distribution to every other week.
At times, those who worked at the food bank worried about providing for the families who depend on them. The community has always come through for them, though. Maplesville's Food Bank recently established a relationship with Grace Klein Community and achieved official food bank status. Now they can receive more assistance and have moved into the branch, rather than being across the street. Community donations come in weekly, but one member donated something unexpected and integral to the food bank's growth: a refrigerator and a freezer. The food bank now provides a wider variety of foods, including perishable items such as meat.
They now serve approximately 70 families every other week and are happy to meet a need so close to them. If you would like to get involved with the Maplesville Food Bank through volunteering your time or making a donation, please reach out to our Maplesville team at 334-244-9999, or visit our volunteer portal at the bottom of our home page.