Since opening its doors more than 50 years ago, Shelby Emergency Assistance (SEA) has been a source of hope for Shelby County families. Based in Montevallo, the United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) partner agency provides food, utility, transportation and medical assistance, helping neighbors move “from crisis to self-sufficiency,” said Executive Director Brooke McKinley.
SEA’s food pantry, one of its cornerstone programs, has partnered with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama for more than 45 years — one of its longest-running collaborations in the region. In the past year alone, the pantry provided food to 887 families across Shelby County.
The pantry operates Monday through Friday by appointment, typically serving clients up to six times per year, or more often when circumstances demand it. With recent challenges to SNAP benefits, SEA has temporarily adjusted its policy to allow affected families and individuals to receive food once per week.
Each visit provides enough food for about a week, with portions tailored to family size and items thoughtfully selected.
“If we’re giving out noodles, we’re going to give out pasta sauce with it,” McKinley said. “We think through what will truly feed a family well.”
A Story That Stands Out
One memory that sticks with McKinley is of a grandmother who had just gained custody of her four grandchildren.
“She was on a fixed income, and her food stamps hadn’t been adjusted yet,” McKinley recalled. “She told me, ‘The first thing I’ve got to do is feed them.’”
As McKinley helped her fill a cart with groceries, she offered a bag of walnuts that were recently delivered from the food bank.
“The grandmother lit up,” McKinley said. “She told me her grandkids had been begging her to make brownies with walnuts, but she couldn’t afford to buy them. It was the perfect thing to give them a little comfort in a time of transition.”
Meeting Needs Without Barriers
While SEA follows USDA income guidelines for most of its pantry distribution, McKinley emphasized that no one in need is turned away.
“If someone doesn’t meet those requirements and they’re hungry, we’ll find a way to get them food,” she said.
That flexibility reflects SEA’s broader mission to remove barriers and connect people with the help they need. Many clients come in seeking help with one urgent need and discover other forms of support available to them.
“We can’t do it all — no organization can — but we listen, and we connect people to services they may need,” McKinley said. “Sometimes that connection makes all the difference.”
Collaboration That Changes Lives
Being part of United Way’s network, McKinley said, allows Shelby Emergency Assistance to serve families more effectively by collaborating with other organizations that share the same mission.
“I’ve worked at United Way agencies for most of my career, and I can’t imagine not being part of the United Way network,” she said.
Before joining SEA, McKinley served with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, both longtime United Way partners. Those experiences have deepened her understanding of what families need and how collaboration across agencies can make the biggest impact.
“I always tell people we wouldn’t exist without United Way,” McKinley said.
How the Community Can Help
Shelby Emergency Assistance is seeing an uptick in food requests. At the same time, its main supplier, the Community Food Bank, is facing low inventory, limiting what SEA can order. SEA welcomes volunteers to help pack pantry bags or check out its Amazon Wishlist, where people can help stock the pantry directly.