CULLMAN, Ala. – The holidays are right around the corner, bringing with them twinkling lights, family gatherings, favorite recipes and the familiar question of who’s bringing the green bean casserole. But while many families are busy planning Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas celebrations, others are wondering how they’ll put their next meal on the table.
Fortunately, Cullman County is a community that knows how to lend a helping hand, and this holiday season offers plenty of opportunities to spread a little extra cheer.
Local food pantries and charitable organizations work throughout the year to help neighbors facing food insecurity, but the holiday season can bring additional challenges. Between rising grocery bills, colder weather and the added expenses of celebrating, even a little assistance can make a meaningful difference.
And while canned green beans, boxed stuffing and jars of peanut butter are always welcome additions to a donation box, some of the most helpful items are the ones people might never think to give.
Think outside the canned goods
When most people picture a food pantry donation, they imagine rows of canned vegetables, pasta and soup. Those staples are important, but a thoughtfully packed donation bag can provide something beyond basic nutrition: a little comfort, convenience and normalcy.
Consider adding a few unexpected items to your next donation:
- Birthday cake mix, frosting and candles: Everyone deserves to feel celebrated on their birthday. A box of cake mix, a container of frosting and a pack of candles can help a family create a special memory without stretching its grocery budget.
- Cooking oil, flour, sugar and spices: A pantry full of ingredients isn’t much help without the basics needed to prepare them. Salt, pepper, cinnamon, cooking spray and other kitchen staples are easy to overlook.
- Can openers: Canned food is only useful if someone can open it. Manual can openers can be especially helpful for households without reliable kitchen equipment
- Condiments and sauces: Ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad dressing and other flavor boosters can turn simple pantry staples into meals that feel a little more like home
- Shelf-stable milk: Powdered milk and shelf-stable cartons can help families prepare cereal, macaroni and cheese, baked goods and other everyday favorites
- Breakfast foods: Oatmeal, pancake mix that only requires water, syrup, cereal and breakfast bars can make busy mornings a little easier
- Kid-friendly snacks: Applesauce pouches, crackers, granola bars and individually packaged snacks can help fill lunchboxes during the school week.
- Holiday treats: Hot cocoa packets, marshmallows, cookie mixes and candy can help bring a little holiday magic to families who might otherwise have to skip the extras.
- Personal hygiene products: Toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, soap, menstrual products and toilet paper are everyday necessities that can be difficult to afford.
- Baby supplies: Diapers, wipes and formula can be especially valuable when an organization is equipped to accept and distribute them.
- Pet food: Four-legged family members need to eat, too. Donations of unopened dog and cat food can help families care for their pets during financially difficult times.
Another thoughtful idea is to put together a complete meal kit. A box of pasta, a jar of sauce and a can of vegetables, for example, can provide most of what a family needs for dinner. A Thanksgiving-themed bag might include boxed stuffing, instant potatoes, canned green beans, gravy mix and cranberry sauce.
For families with limited cooking facilities, ready-to-eat meals and foods requiring little preparation may be particularly useful.
Before donating, check with the receiving organization about its current needs and what it can accept. Unopened, unexpired food in its original packaging is generally the safest choice.
Where to give in Cullman
For residents looking to make a donation, several local organizations provide food assistance throughout Cullman and the surrounding communities.
- Cullman Caring for Kids: 402 Arnold St. NE, Cullman. 256-739-1111
- The Pantry at The Link: 708 Ninth St. SE, Cullman. 256-775-0028
- St. Vincent de Paul: 201 Third Ave. SE, Cullman. 256-737-5131
- The Caring Center: 1629 Second Ave., Cullman. 256-737-7757
- First Baptist Church of Cullman: 501 Second Ave. SW, Cullman. 256-734-5632
- Spirit Life Church of God: 1650 St. Joseph Dr. NW, Cullman. 256-739-3326
Residents can also contribute to Little Free Pantries throughout the county, including locations near Mary Carter in downtown Cullman, Good Hope City Hall and the Hanceville Police Department. Cullman Electric Cooperative also operates a 24-hour Community Cupboard at 1749 Eva Road NE.
These locations are identified in local food-assistance directories and community resource listings. Donors should contact organizations directly to confirm donation hours, accepted items and holiday needs.
A little kindness goes a long way
Giving doesn’t have to mean filling an entire shopping cart. Picking up one or two extra items during a weekly grocery trip can make a difference, especially when neighbors work together.
Church groups, workplaces, classrooms and community organizations can also organize small food drives, with each participant contributing a few items.
For those who would rather skip the shopping, monetary donations can be particularly valuable. Food pantries may be able to purchase supplies in bulk, fill specific inventory gaps and obtain fresh foods that are difficult to collect through traditional donation drives.
The holidays are often described as the season of giving, but generosity doesn’t have to come wrapped in shiny paper or tied with a bow.
Sometimes it looks like a jar of peanut butter, a bag of groceries or a box of birthday candles tucked into a donation bin.
And for a neighbor who needs a little extra help, that small act of kindness might be the brightest part of the season.
