In 1981 a small group of committed volunteers worked side by side the United Way of Central Alabama and the Greater Birmingham Foundation to open the Community Food Bank’s doors. In our early years, we focused solely on feeding neighbors in need of emergency food. In 2016, our Board of Directors took the bold step to broaden our mission and also address hunger’s root causes. Now we take a two-pronged approach to solving hunger.
We accomplish this mission by supplying millions of meals per year to over 230 food pantries, shelters and children’s programs in 12 counties in Central Alabama. Our aim is to ensure people in need can access emergency food near where they live. When we identify a gap in this network that leaves specific populations vulnerable to hunger, we operate direct meal programs. For example, we provide fresh produce and groceries to seniors, children at risk of hunger during school breaks, patients facing chronic illness, first-time mothers and others in need. For easy access, we deliver to key locations like schools, senior housing facilities, medical clinics and more.
The Community Food Bank also incubates social enterprises that promote nutrition, prevents wholesome food from going to waste and tests new initiatives that go beyond charity to create healthy food access for all.
Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Walker, and Winston.
Kathryn is Executive Director of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. She also chairs the Alabama Food Bank Association and the Bold Goals Coalition’s Healthy Lifestyles Priority Group. Previously, she served as director of multiple nonprofits including the Food Bank of North Alabama, LIFT Housing and the Community Mediation Center. Strickland holds an M.A. from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and a B.A. from Davidson College. In 2015 she was awarded the Alabama Association of Nonprofits’ annual scholarship to the Nonprofit Management Program at Harvard Business School. While living in Bozeman, MT, she led hiking & cycling trips in locales including Yellowstone, the Tetons, Mongolia, Tahiti and Botswana. She is a big fan of veggies and views farmers as her heroes.
Adrian Anderson has been a SNAP Outreach Coordinator of Central Alabama since June 2014. Over her tenure, she has assisted with the growth and sustainable expansion of the SNAP Outreach program throughout the Central and North Alabama regions. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Humans Service and a Master of Science degree in Social Work. She has participated in seminars and conferences on both the local and national level, advocated for SNAP preservation and expansion, and continually works with community and agency partners to enroll and educate our neighbors in need about benefits that may help them end their cycle of hunger.
Jon Barnacastle is Programs Coordinator at Community Food Bank. On staff since November 2013, Jon oversees several of the Food Bank’s direct service programs including the Kids Meal Campaign—Weekenders Backpack, Family Market (or “school pantry”), and Summer Meals. Having served in multiple Feeding America capacity-building committees, he is well-versed in best practices shared by food banks across the country in expanding service to vulnerable populations.
Shalitha McLean joined the Food Bank team in July 2017 as the Partner Relations Assistant, but is now our Volunteer Coordinator. She has experience in management and community engagement along with a B.S. in Public Health from University of Alabama at Birmingham. Throughout undergraduate Shalitha enjoyed volunteering and exploring the great Magic City. Along the way, she developed a passion for helping those in our community. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Health at UAB with a focus on health behavior, so that she can expand her knowledge and further her career serving those in need.
Jamie McLynn is our Special Projects Coordinator. Jamie graduated from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) with an ABJ in Advertising and BS in Sociology. Her involvement with Dance Marathon and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals while in college sparked a love of nonprofit work that continues to this day. Prior to CFBCA, Jamie lived in Connecticut and served on the programming team of a nonprofit camp for seriously ill children and their families. Four years at camp developed her into an expert slime-maker, party-planner, and prank-player.
Jamie is a member of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, is a Certified Nonprofit Professional, and is working on her graduate certificate in Nonprofit Organizations.
When she’s not tending to her very special projects at the Food Bank, Jamie loves to explore Birmingham and hike with her husband. She thinks “y’all” is the best word in the English language, and is very happy to once again live in a place where it’s part of the vernacular.
Dakota Rhodes joined the CFB team in May of 2018. As our Healthy Food Access Coordinator, he manages the Corner Market, which is our mobile grocery store that goes to different communities that may not otherwise have access to affordable healthy food. He also coordinates the Double Up Food Bucks program for Alabama, which doubles the amount of money SNAP users can use to buy fresh local produce. He got his BA in International Studies from UAB with a minor in Spanish and concentration in Italian. He is currently finishing up his MPA at UAB. After undergrad he moved to Jaén, Spain for a year and half to work as an assistant English teacher. After on and off years of service industry work at Rojo in Birmingham, he joined the Food Bank to help serve people food in a different kind of way. Dakota enjoys traveling to faraway places, being outdoors and being in the wate
Jessica Taylor joined the CFB team in 2017 as our Food Donor Coordinator and manages the Community Food Bank’s grocery store donation program. She assists our partner agencies and food donors that rescue consumable foods left behind by grocery stores. Before starting a career in food banking, Jessica worked 7 years employed as an Alabama Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Therapist. She received her education at the University of North Alabama holding a Master’s Degree in Counseling and a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education. During her career, she has provided counseling to both college students and clients at UAB’s Psychiatric Inpatient Facility. Jessica now works to continue motivating others and spreading awareness on hunger. She has a keen interest and expertise in nutrition counseling. In 2014, Jessica successfully completed her personal weight loss journey losing more than 65 pounds and served as a part-time fitness trainer. Jessica’s hobbies include learning new smart home technology, and on weekends she can be found watching the newest sci-fi movies.
Elizabeth Wix is the Director of Partnerships at CFB. She first joined the team in spring 2017, working in Agency Relations. She now handles CFB’s development including external relations, community outreach, social media, communications, marketing, fundraising, and donor recruitment. Elizabeth earned her BA and MA in Anthropology from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) and continues her education through numerous workshops, webinars, and nonprofit development course work. She currently serves on the American Heart Association’s Health Equity Committee in Birmingham. A native of Muscle Shoals, Elizabeth has lived in the Birmingham area since 2012. After several years working in the corporate world, she decided to seek for purposeful work in the nonprofit sector. She enjoys road trips, live music, and most of all her two giant hound dogs, Ladybird and Jolene.
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