Cullman Caring for Kids Director Javon Daniel took media on a tour of the organization’s water-damaged basement Wednesday afternoon. (W.C. Mann for The Cullman Tribune)
CULLMAN – On Wednesday afternoon, Cullman Caring for Kids (CCK) Director Javon Daniel met with The Tribune and two Birmingham news teams for a media briefing on the recent temporary closure of the office and food bank due to flooding.
According to Daniel, the water damage was confined to the basement and affected furniture, paper goods and other items stored there. CCK’s food bank is located on the main floor, and no food items were affected by water that Cullman County maintenance workers believe leached into the facility through the floor. Numerous shelving units, all made of wood, were subjected to 3 1/2 inches of water; the units and the concrete floor are now showing signs of mold.
Daniel told reporters, “We’re certain that there’s no bad situation in the food bank. We do have some mold that’s forming in the basement so, for that reason, we know we’re going to have to clean the place out completely.
While CCK’s food supply is safe, Daniel and the County were concerned that exposure to mold in the air could cause or exacerbate health problems for food bank clients, many of whom are elderly or in poor health.
Daniel explained, “I don’t want anybody to be exposed to something here that might cause them to be sick, especially–we have some ladies and some men that are cancer patients; I don’t want them to be exposed to anything that might make them sick, or anyone else, for that matter. So what we’re doing is, we’re doing that for the protection of our clients and the protection of our staff.”
Not only is CCK concerned about cleaning up and getting back to work as soon as possible, but the organization also hopes to find a means of preventing a repeat of the issue in the future.
“And we’re working with the (Cullman) County commissioners in order to try and get that done,” said Daniel. “It’s just one of those things where we just have to be all on the same page.”
According to Daniel, CCK has previously approached the County about finding a better location for the facility, that could include office space and a warehouse. He expressed hope that the current situation would bring enough County and community attention to the agency’s needs to bring about a positive change.
CCK was supposed to reopen from its Christmas/New Year’s break on Thursday, Jan. 3, and according to Daniel, the office would normally serve up to 120 families in that first day back. An average of 30 or more families visit the food bank on a typical day. Daniel spoke with confidence in a positive response as he called on other area charitable groups to help fill the temporary gap caused by the CCK shutdown.
Said Daniel, “I know there’s several churches and church organizations that have food banks, and I’m sure that they will step up. They always have.”
Daniel told reporters that he hopes to see CCK reopen within the next week, saying, “I hope that we can get back in operation soon, because this is–to be honest with you–it’s breaking my heart.”
Fighting back tears after being asked how the closure affected him, Daniel shared, “I’ve been here 17 years. I’ve worked with the public all my life, and I can really tell you that this hurts . . . We provide a very, very vital service to this community, and we want to do that. But I’m not going to jeopardize the health of people who come in here, just so we can hand out a few groceries.”
See the entire press briefing at www.facebook.com/CullmanTribune/videos/747183432321468/.
Get involved!
Daniel said that CCK does not currently need food, since the pantry was unaffected by water damage, but cleanup and repairs are likely to be costly. The director requested that those who wish to help should visit CCK’s website or Facebook page to donate online or call the office.
www.cullmancaringforkids.com
www.facebook.com/CullmanCaringForKids/
Office phone: 256-739-1111
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