DeKalb County educator and University of West Alabama adjunct professor Dr. Brandon Renfroe spoke at the recent National Forum to Advance Rural Education, held in Savannah, GA, on a topic dear to his heart: improving the lives of students suffering from very low food security (VLFS).
At the forum, Dr. Renfroe presented information on the transformative impact of a feeding program, Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope, that addresses food insecurity in the Black Belt and DeKalb counties. Presenting alongside Dr. Renfroe were UWA educators Dr. Reenay Rogers, Dr. Annah Rogers-Cofer, Dr. B.J. Kimbrough, and Sumter County Child Nutrition Director Heather Shambry. Dr. Renfroe discussed how the initiative has grown and reached an increasing number of students each year.
The program, initially based on Dr. Renfroe’s and his colleagues’ research into food insecurity in Sumter County, began in 2021. Renfroe stated, “When I did my research, Sumter County suffered from very low food security (VLFS) at over 10 times the national average. To help alleviate the problem, the West Alabama Food Bank partnered with the Sumter County CNP Director, Ms. Heather Shambry, to provide “secret meals” to students in three Sumter County middle schools. The program started by feeding 24 children in 2021-22, and now the number is up to 72. While at the conference, the presenters were able to secure $15,000 in funds to ensure continued support of this program in Sumter County. The group also secured $15,000 for students in both Perry and Walker Counties as well.
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In 2022, the Food Bank of North Alabama expanded the initiative to DeKalb County, with Geraldine High School as a pilot. Dr. Renfroe was instrumental in creating Geraldine High School’s Bulldog Pantry, which provides food for families free of charge each weekend. The pantry is made possible by the North Alabama Food Bank and generous donations from individuals and groups. On November 16, the Bulldog Pantry, located at Geraldine High School’s lunchroom, will provide 100 Thanksgiving meal gift boxes and $25 meat vouchers to Bruce’s Foodland locations for area families.
Dr. Renfroe commented on the relationship between DeKalb and Sumter counties. Renfroe said, “Sumter County and DeKalb County are located on opposite sides of the state and have very different demographics. However, one commonality is the hunger that is often seen in rural areas, regardless of race – and the generosity of those who know that our children are our most precious asset.”
DeKalb and Sumter County have been blessed with educators and generous volunteers who saw a need and took action to meet it. Their dedication and the community’s support have been instrumental in the success of these initiatives. We can all be thankful for that this Thanksgiving season.
Courtesy of Mountain Valley News
