food deserts

An annual, friendly competition against The University of Alabama and Auburn University that happens during the seven weeks leading up to the Iron Bowl is back in session. The goal is to see which school can collect more non-perishable food to help those in need.

An annual, friendly competition that helps fight food insecurity in Alabama, while collecting donations for the West Alabama Food Bank, is starting up again. The 31st annual Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive is kicking off on Oct. 4 at The University of Alabama and runs through Nov. 21.

An Alabama Senate committee voted to set aside money so that the state can reverse course and participate in a federal program that gives summer food assistance to low-income families with school-age children. APR news reported on efforts by the nonprofit group Alabama Arise to urge the public to call lawmakers on the issue.

Advocacy groups are urging Alabama lawmakers to join a federal program that gives summer food assistance to low-income families with school age children. The program called Summer EBT, or Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program, provides families $40 per month for each child receiving free and reduced-price school lunches.

As part of an ongoing effort to combat hunger, the City of Auburn's Dean Road Ceramics Studio and the City of Opelika's Denson Drive Recreation Center will host the 11th annual Opelika-Auburn Empty Bowls Spring of 2024. The event is set for Saturday, April 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Some Alabama households will be facing food insecurity in the coming months, as the state decided not to take part in a 2024 summer electronic benefit transfer (EBT) program. The nonprofit Alabama Arise is looking to make change ahead of next summer.

Another round of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, payments are be issued to recipients in Alabama during the month of April, but not everyone will be paid on the same date.

Tickets will soon be on sale for the 11th annual Opelika-Auburn Empty Bowls event Spring of 2024. It will be held on in Opelika, Alabama on Saturday, April 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Advocacy groups in Alabama are urging the public to contact local lawmakers over the continuation of the state sales tax on groceries. This is due to the law having a stipulation that Alabama’s education revenue must increase to offset losses for the deduction to be activated.

Lower-income families with school-age kids can get help from the federal government paying for groceries this summer, unless they live in one of the 14 states that have said no to joining the program this year, including Alabama.