CULLMAN CARING FOR KIDS

Child abuse and neglect is defined as any act, or failure to act, on the part of the caretaker or parent, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation. This is a serious act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm.

In 2018, Alabama has 28,748 total referrals for child abuse and neglect, 28,121. 12,158 children were found to be victims of abuse and neglect, with 10,043 being first time victims.  Breakdown as follows: 
42% Physical Abuse
31% Neglect
15% Sexual Abuse 
12% More Than One Type of Abuse

Abuse and neglect can happen from birth. Alabama reported 533 infants were screened-in with prenatal substance abuse exposure. Drugs and Alcohol can  cause a variety of developmental and mental delays, but also cause physical trauma due to withdrawal.
 

      WE CAN NOT TELL YOU HOW EXCITED WE ARE ABOUT HAVING A MOBILE FOOD BANK. WE REALIZED DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT THE NEED WAS THERE. SO MANY CLIENTS DID NOT HAVE A WAY TO GET TO THE FOOD BANK AND WE DECIDED WE NEEDED TO BRING THE FOOD BANK TO THEM. PUBLIX SUPERMARKET CHARITIES AND UNITED WAY STEPPED UP AND WE WILL FOREVER BE THANKFUL THEY MADE THIS HAPPEN. 
WE WILL BE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS AS OF RIGHT NOW. 

WEST POINT TOWN HALL- EVERY 1ST WEDNESDAY
SIMCOE COMMUNITY CENTER- EVERY 2ND WEDNESDAY
HANCEVILLE CITY HALL- EVERY 3RD WEDNESDAY
CRANE HILL SENIOR CENTER-EVERY 4TH WEDNESDAY

The time will be from 9-12, and you must meet the requirements per Cullman Caring for Kids. Keep in mind that if you pick up from the Mobile food bank, you will not be able to come into the food bank as well. Requirements are as follows:

*PICTURE ID
*PROOF OF INCOME
*PROOF OF ADDRESS
*IF YOU RECEIVE FOOD STAMPS, PLEASE BRING A COPY OF YOUR AWARD LETTER WITH YOU.
*ONLY ONE FAMILY PER HOUSEHOLD AND THIS IS FOR CULLMAN RESIDENTS ONLY.

​IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO CALL US AT 256-739-1111. 

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April is Child Abuse Awareness month. It is heartbreaking to know that so many children die daily because of child abuse. In 2020, In Alabama alone, 21 sweet, helpless, innocent children died due to child abuse. It is MURDER!! How could anyone, anywhere harm a child? What have they done? That is just it, nothing. They are beaten, shaken, and tossed away like trash to take their last breath. Some are beaten beyond recognition. There is no reason for this whatsoever. If we don't take a stand, and be their voice, who is? If you think someone is being abused, say something!! You could be the  only one speaking for them. Please contact the proper authorities and save a life!!

We decided to try our hand at hatching out some baby quail for educational purposes. The excitement was an understatement to say the least. Did you know it takes 18 days for a quail to hatch? We came in on Monday, March 1st, to these sweet little babies running around in the incubator. As soon as their little feathers dried, we put them in the brooder box with their heat lamp and they are so healthy. They are eating and drinking water as they should. stay tuned for more pictures.

This year we enjoyed getting to decorate the booth for the Cullman County Fair. Jayne did a fantastic job on the display board. We wanted it to be bright and cheerful and hopefully lift spirits as you gazed upon the beautiful fall colors. Looking forward to next year!!

Thank you to Goat Island, JELCO, and The Final Touch. This donation came from funds raised by the sale of face masks manufactured by JELCO and customized by The Final Touch. We appreciate the efforts that they put in to help the community fight hunger. It's people and businesses like this that we appreciate and need.

Left to right are Gery Teichmiller, Mike Mullaney, Matthew Schumacher, Tonja Grace, John Dean, Nancy Bryant, Phillip Clemmons (JELCO/Elk River), Garett Smith Lisa White and Jason White(The Final Touch)

We are excited to announce that we will be partnering with Lifesouth for a community blood drive. There is a critical need right now for blood donors. Lifesouth only makes an "Emergency Appeal" for donors when there is a 2-day supply or less for our hospitals. All donors will be tested for the Covid-19 antibodies. Everyone who brings 5 cans of food will receive a set of sheets! One set per family please. Donors will also receive a t-shirt form Lifesouth, coupons from Lawler's for a free BBQ sandwich & a pound of Papa Murphy's cookie dough with pizza purchase. The blood drive will be on July 15th, from 10-4. We encourage everyone to come out and help us to help others in need. 

We are very fortunate to have Mr. Javon Daniel here as the Executive Director of Cullman Caring for Kids. Mr. Daniel has been a part of Cullman Caring for Kids for many years, 20 years to be exact. The passion he has for this community shines in everything he does. Javon was a graduate of Holly Pond High School, where he then went to Athens State University. Javon worked at the Cullman County Sheriffs Department and worked with the Juvenile Division for quite some time. He loves his work family, and takes care of them as his own. I come to know Mr. Daniel years ago, his son Jeff and I went to school together.
I always knew him as our bus driver for band trips and football games. Even back then, you could see the love he had for not only his fellow man, but his community as well. I see the excitement in his face everyday as food comes in and he knows we are able to serve others. I have also seen the worry in his eyes when the shelves are bare, and we don't know what the next move will be. We pray, and God provides.  The one thing that sticks out the most, and is the absolutely most important, is his love for Jesus. He starts everyday with us all and leads us in prayer. This day and time with the way things are, that is a rarity itself. Thank you Javon for a job well done.

Covid-19 changed the world around us. So many life changes occurred due to the virus. One thing that made this virus hard, you couldn't see it, but yet it was disrupting lives everywhere. So many things we take for granted everyday, was suddenly taken from us all. We were scared to go to town, a normal trip to the grocery store required wiping things down, and wearing masks, wearing gloves, etc. We couldn't visit those we loved, we had to keep our distance, no hugs, some understood and some did not. The staff here at Cullman Caring for Kids will never forget it. We worked hard and steadfast everyday to make sure the community could get the resources they needed. So many lost jobs, unemployment was on the rise, making it even more difficult for them to draw their unemployment. We were all scared of the unknown. This community stepped up and showed out in a big way. It blessed your heart to see so many volunteering to help others in a dire time of need. We asked a few of our employees about what stood out at them the most about being here at the food bank during Covid-19. 
Here are their quotes:
Javon Daniel, " We realized how much the Food Bank was needed."
Nancy Bryant, " The fact that we laid down every night with a whole heart, knowing that people/children were not going to bed hungry." "The staff put their lives at danger, yet they never complained, and kept pressing on."
Jayne Roberts, "the food bank, the teamwork that it took to pull it off with a skeleton crew, no matter what we needed, we did it and got it done. "Knowing that people were truly scared, they needed to know we were here, and it was going to be alright."
Tonja Grace, " I could never put into words the love, the friendship, and the hope that I saw within this Food Bank. The community as a whole, they made my heart happy.