Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The reality is here in front of us that the
government shutdown is going to affect what forty million plus
in the country when it comes to food substance and
assistance for families that need it. Food banks across North
Alabama is certainly going to be stressed on this. Joining
us now from the North Alabama Food Bank CEO, Shirley
(00:20):
Schofield is here. Shirley, good morning, welcome in, thanks for.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Being here, Good morning, Thank you so much for letting
me be here.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Absolutely so, I see that in Alabama we've got eight
different areas and different food banks across our state to
handle the regions. What is the reality with the food
banks when you're faced with something that's this catastrophic, potentially
with a snap program coming to a screeching halt this weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Well, the same, Thanks in North Alabama, all eight of us.
This is what we do. We get food out to
the community. So it's really kind of it's just really
kind of heightened what we're what our work now. But
what we really want to think about are the many families,
the many many families, the children, the seniors who are
(01:09):
having to struggle with this. They're the ones that are
being impacted by this the most because they're the ones
who are having to go without meals. So that's who
we really want to make sure that we're addressing, and
that we're really trying to focus on is making sure
that we have the food in place and the infrastructure
to get that food to them as quickly as possible
when they need it the most.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
How many people in the state of Alabama are on
the SNAP program and rely on assistance like this, I
know it's the number is huge when you think about
the country, forty million plus and it's cost billions of
dollars to maintain this. But here in the state of Alabama,
I guess you're going to be stressed along with all
the other food banks across the state. So what is
(01:51):
needed at this point right now, we kind of have
to assume that the impact is coming. SNAP will shut
down this weekend. There's no indication the politicians are going
to end this by the end of the week. The
Democrats still holding strong and not wanting to come to
the table. So with that said, what is needed with
the food banks here in Alabama?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
So in Alabama, they're about seven hundred and fifty thousand
residents who are who receive snap benefits. And on top
of that, we have a significant amount over sixty two
thousand federal employees, so all of them are being impacted
at the same time. So currently, all the food banks
in Alabama and in the nation, to be honest, are
(02:32):
looking for quick food supplies. We're trying to get more
food in. We're trying to get volunteers in to help
us pack up food boxes and help us prepare for
large scale mobilizations and distributions. And honestly, we're also looking
for funding sources, anyone who can help us get some
more funding in so we can purchase more food and
(02:53):
also help get the word out that the need is
here and it's going to take all of us working
together to get through this crisis.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, people can't make a trip by because of their
schedules or they just you know, would rather kind of check.
Just as important as showing up with boxes of food,
it is.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Actually, there's so many different ways that people can help.
Either through monetary funds, you know, all the FAE banks
make it really easy for people to donate. You can
just go to a website and donate. Another way is
if you don't have the time to do it sometimes
just writing that check or getting those funds in. We're
all very efficient at what we do, and so we
(03:29):
can turn every dollar into multiple meals for families.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
When you talk about kids in school, lunch programs and
food banks across the state, do they work hand in hand?
Do you work with schools as well?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yes, we do. We currently work with a lot of
the students, especially over the summer, but even during the
school year, we work with a lot of schools through
after school programs and things like that. So we want
to make sure that all those kids that are our
next generation of engineers and business people and of our state,
we want to make sure they can come to school
(04:03):
and be ready to eat or ready to learn, and
make sure that they're on their way to being a success.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
You know, I pray and hope that this doesn't come
to be. But you know, as the government has stayed
shut down, what for now twenty eight days, you know,
it's a real good reality that by the weekend, you know,
the substance, you know, the sustainability, a snap will be
coming to a screeching halt here. But I think in
(04:30):
all of this we have seen not only in Alabama,
but in states across the country where in times of tragedy,
hurricanes and tornadoes, you know, communities come together. And I
got to think that this is going to be a
huge eye opener for folks in our community and a
great opportunity for them to respond to this need that
you and all the other food banks in our state
need right now and will step up, and you're going
(04:54):
to see God's work and all of this. I do
believe surely that you know, if the need is there,
it will be met by these people here in our
state of Alabama, as they come together so many times
to help those that are struggling right now. So maybe
there is a silver lining in this in that this
could maybe change direction on policies so we're not faced
(05:14):
with us down the road if this ever comes to
be again. But you know, certainly a lot of discussions
are happening from the highest level all the way down
to you and I right now on what to do
when these types of things happen. So I'll be praying
for you. I'm going to make a donation as well,
and tell us how easy it is. Do you go
to the Food Bank Alabama website? What is the website?
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Sure, there's a thank you so much for all that
you just said. I really do appreciate it. So there's
a couple of different ways since I'm in you know,
obviously in North Alabama and Huntsville. But it's very easy
for everyone to be able to have a donation right
(05:58):
to the food bank closest to them, So they can
go to the Feeding Alabama website or they can go
to ours. Our website is pretty easy. It's foodbanknorthal dot org.
So that's a really easy way for people to reach us,
right and so you know, Feeding Alabama is also a
(06:20):
really great website. They work with all of the different
food banks and it's just feeding out. Feedingalabama dot org
very good, and that's another way, and all of the
food banks have a space on there. So no matter
where you live in the state, if you go to
Feedingalabama dot org, you can find food bank closest to you.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Once again, ten bucks or ten thousand dollars, whatever you're
capable of. Every little bit's going to help here if
in fact, we are faced with us and it's not
getting any better anytime soon. Helping these folks out with
a food bank here in our state. Thank you, Shirley
I appreciate your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Thank you so much. You have a great day.
The reality is here in front of us that the
government shutdown is going to affect what forty million plus
in the country when it comes to food substance and
assistance for families that need it. Food banks across North
Alabama is certainly going to be stressed on this. Joining
us now from the North Alabama Food Bank CEO, Shirley
(00:20):
Schofield is here. Shirley, good morning, welcome in, thanks for.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Being here, Good morning, Thank you so much for letting
me be here.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Absolutely so, I see that in Alabama we've got eight
different areas and different food banks across our state to
handle the regions. What is the reality with the food
banks when you're faced with something that's this catastrophic, potentially
with a snap program coming to a screeching halt this weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Well, the same, Thanks in North Alabama, all eight of us.
This is what we do. We get food out to
the community. So it's really kind of it's just really
kind of heightened what we're what our work now. But
what we really want to think about are the many families,
the many many families, the children, the seniors who are
(01:09):
having to struggle with this. They're the ones that are
being impacted by this the most because they're the ones
who are having to go without meals. So that's who
we really want to make sure that we're addressing, and
that we're really trying to focus on is making sure
that we have the food in place and the infrastructure
to get that food to them as quickly as possible
when they need it the most.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
How many people in the state of Alabama are on
the SNAP program and rely on assistance like this, I
know it's the number is huge when you think about
the country, forty million plus and it's cost billions of
dollars to maintain this. But here in the state of Alabama,
I guess you're going to be stressed along with all
the other food banks across the state. So what is
(01:51):
needed at this point right now, we kind of have
to assume that the impact is coming. SNAP will shut
down this weekend. There's no indication the politicians are going
to end this by the end of the week. The
Democrats still holding strong and not wanting to come to
the table. So with that said, what is needed with
the food banks here in Alabama?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
So in Alabama, they're about seven hundred and fifty thousand
residents who are who receive snap benefits. And on top
of that, we have a significant amount over sixty two
thousand federal employees, so all of them are being impacted
at the same time. So currently, all the food banks
in Alabama and in the nation, to be honest, are
(02:32):
looking for quick food supplies. We're trying to get more
food in. We're trying to get volunteers in to help
us pack up food boxes and help us prepare for
large scale mobilizations and distributions. And honestly, we're also looking
for funding sources, anyone who can help us get some
more funding in so we can purchase more food and
(02:53):
also help get the word out that the need is
here and it's going to take all of us working
together to get through this crisis.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, people can't make a trip by because of their
schedules or they just you know, would rather kind of check.
Just as important as showing up with boxes of food,
it is.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Actually, there's so many different ways that people can help.
Either through monetary funds, you know, all the FAE banks
make it really easy for people to donate. You can
just go to a website and donate. Another way is
if you don't have the time to do it sometimes
just writing that check or getting those funds in. We're
all very efficient at what we do, and so we
(03:29):
can turn every dollar into multiple meals for families.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
When you talk about kids in school, lunch programs and
food banks across the state, do they work hand in hand?
Do you work with schools as well?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yes, we do. We currently work with a lot of
the students, especially over the summer, but even during the
school year, we work with a lot of schools through
after school programs and things like that. So we want
to make sure that all those kids that are our
next generation of engineers and business people and of our state,
we want to make sure they can come to school
(04:03):
and be ready to eat or ready to learn, and
make sure that they're on their way to being a success.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
You know, I pray and hope that this doesn't come
to be. But you know, as the government has stayed
shut down, what for now twenty eight days, you know,
it's a real good reality that by the weekend, you know,
the substance, you know, the sustainability, a snap will be
coming to a screeching halt here. But I think in
(04:30):
all of this we have seen not only in Alabama,
but in states across the country where in times of tragedy,
hurricanes and tornadoes, you know, communities come together. And I
got to think that this is going to be a
huge eye opener for folks in our community and a
great opportunity for them to respond to this need that
you and all the other food banks in our state
need right now and will step up, and you're going
(04:54):
to see God's work and all of this. I do
believe surely that you know, if the need is there,
it will be met by these people here in our
state of Alabama, as they come together so many times
to help those that are struggling right now. So maybe
there is a silver lining in this in that this
could maybe change direction on policies so we're not faced
(05:14):
with us down the road if this ever comes to
be again. But you know, certainly a lot of discussions
are happening from the highest level all the way down
to you and I right now on what to do
when these types of things happen. So I'll be praying
for you. I'm going to make a donation as well,
and tell us how easy it is. Do you go
to the Food Bank Alabama website? What is the website?
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Sure, there's a thank you so much for all that
you just said. I really do appreciate it. So there's
a couple of different ways since I'm in you know,
obviously in North Alabama and Huntsville. But it's very easy
for everyone to be able to have a donation right
(05:58):
to the food bank closest to them, So they can
go to the Feeding Alabama website or they can go
to ours. Our website is pretty easy. It's foodbanknorthal dot org.
So that's a really easy way for people to reach us,
right and so you know, Feeding Alabama is also a
(06:20):
really great website. They work with all of the different
food banks and it's just feeding out. Feedingalabama dot org
very good, and that's another way, and all of the
food banks have a space on there. So no matter
where you live in the state, if you go to
Feedingalabama dot org, you can find food bank closest to you.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Once again, ten bucks or ten thousand dollars, whatever you're
capable of. Every little bit's going to help here if
in fact, we are faced with us and it's not
getting any better anytime soon. Helping these folks out with
a food bank here in our state. Thank you, Shirley
I appreciate your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Thank you so much. You have a great day.
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