In a vivid display of community service, Publix workers from stores in Montgomery, Pike Road, Wetumpka, Alexander City and Troy gathered at the Heart of Alabama Food Bank on September 24 to pack food boxes for families in need. The effort coincided with Hunger Action Month, a time when the food bank urges residents to “Play Your Part” in the fight against hunger.
Volunteer effort expands food‑bank capacity
Volunteers sorted and assembled a variety of assistance packages, including standard food boxes for households, senior supplement kits, and disaster‑relief parcels ready for distribution across the region. The hands‑on work helped the food bank streamline its operations and reach more of the 35 counties it serves.
Publix partners with local nonprofits
“For volunteers that are corporate sponsors such as Publix, which is an extremely great partner for us, not only do they provide volunteers for us, they also provide food and grants for us to allow us to do what we do,” said John Lucas, interim CEO of the Heart of Alabama Food Bank. He highlighted the importance of corporate citizenship in addressing hunger.
Publix District Manager Kayla Dean echoed the sentiment, noting that the retailer’s mission includes being “responsible citizens within our community” and that supporting Montgomery families aligns with that purpose. “What better way to serve those that we have right here in the city of Montgomery, Alabama,” Dean said.
Jamie Brown, director of corporate and community partnerships for the food bank, added that the volunteer presence ensures that donations are efficiently delivered to partner agencies. “It is so important to have volunteers here to make sure that what we have gets out and delivered to those agencies, but we are super excited to have our Publix partner here to make it work even better,” Brown said.
How residents can get involved
The Heart of Alabama Food Bank encourages community members to host food drives, volunteer their time, or make monetary contributions. Interested parties can sign up through the food bank’s website, where they will find information on upcoming events and donation opportunities.
By mobilizing corporate volunteers and rallying local citizens, the partnership demonstrates how faith‑based values, traditional family support, and individual liberty can converge to strengthen neighborhoods and provide for those most vulnerable.
Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.
