Selma Area Food Bank celebrates 30 years of filling stomachs and hearts in four counties 

The Selma Area Food Bank celebrated its 30th anniversary with a celebration at its warehouse in Craig Industrial Park.  

Norm Trotter, one of the founders, said about 20 people got together and started the Food Bank some 30 years ago. “A lot of them have passed away,” Trotter said. “But it was a group of fantastic folks that got together with the idea and put it together.”  

Kathy Smith was also one of the founders. She said the ESA Sorority was instrumental in getting the Food Bank started on Oak Street. Smith said that building needed a lot of work. “We started by scrubbing the floors and toilets,” Smith said. “It was a rough building. But we were honored to be a part of beginning this.”  

The Selma Area Food Bank started as a partnership with the Montgomery Food Bank. Trotter said, “We would send a truck over there, pay for a certain amount of food and bring it back and pack it.” Then it was distributed to the pantries that needed the supplies. 

The first director was Lamar Calloway. Current Director Jeff Harrison left the banking industry to take over the Food Bank in 2015. When the director at that time, John Parks, left that position, Harrison said, “I transition from money banking to food banking.” 

Harrison said banking money and banking food are similar. “It’s all about relationships and helping people,” Harrison said. “Instead of storing money, we are storing and supplying food. We are able to grow our agencies and grow the Food Bank and go out and promote the Food Bank.”  

One of the ways Harrison and his team promote the Food Bank is by talking to church congregations and other nonprofits that want to help by starting a food pantry. He said he will ask, “Putting all pride aside, would you raise your hand if in the last six months you have struggled to have enough food.” Harrison said, “You would be surprised how many people will raise their hands.”  

By 2019 the Selma Area Food Bank had outgrown the original building. A group of folks from Birmingham and Montgomery that owned the building at Craig Industrial Park decided to donate it to the Food Bank. The building is much larger and has a huge walk-in freezer, making it possible for the Food Bank to store more food, both dry goods and perishables.  

The timing for the move to the new building was perfect. By the time the Food Bank got settled into the new place, COVID-19 hit, and the number of people and families in need grew tremendously.  

The Selma Area Food Bank distributes over 1 million pounds of food per year to Dallas, Perry Marengo and Wilcox counties. The food is distributed through a number of programs. Two to three times per week, thousands of pounds of food are distributed to specific spots in the four counties where low-income individuals can come to receive food.  

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The Food Bank also has a Backpack Program to provide school kids with nutritious food over holiday periods when school is out. The only good meal many kids get is at school. 

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program distributes hundreds of food packages to low-income seniors to supplement their diets with nutritious foods. 

The Brown Bag Program distributes hundreds of brown bags each month to partner agencies for low-income, home-bound citizens. 

The Veteran’s Program is similar to the Brown Bag Program, but focuses on getting nutritious foods to low-income veterans. 

Numerous times each month, volunteers meet at the Food Bank to pack the bags for all of the programs. Harrison said volunteers are needed. “Maybe a student in school needs community service hours. Or maybe someone who has had a little brush with the law needs some community service hours,” Harrison said. Anyone interested in volunteering can see the schedule on the website and Facebook page.  

The other need is donations. The Selma Area Food bank always needs donations of money and food. Harrison said information on donating is also on the Facebook Page and website. You can also call the Food Bank at 334-872-4111. 

During the ceremony Melvin Spears was honored with a plaque for 30 years of service to the Food Bank.  

Trotter, Smith and Harrison said this venture would not be possible without God.  

Smith and Trotter said they thank God for how the Food Bank has grown and how Harrison has been able to grow it even further. Harrison said, “The Lord really looks out for us. The Lord takes good care of us. As we bless people the Lord blesses us.” 

Smith said, “We pray over all of the boxes of food every time they go out. We pray that the people get their stomach filled but their spirit filled too.”