Hunger affects nearly 20% of children in Alabama, standing in the way of school success and everyday stability. United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) is working with communities, schools and organizations to change that.
In Fairfield this commitment takes shape through school-based food pantries that serve more than 200 people each month. These pantries not only meet immediate needs but also strengthen the community by ensuring families have reliable, trusted access to support.
Listening to the Community
inCommunity, United Way’s community schools strategy, expands access to human services by placing them directly on school campuses. And it all begins with one essential step: listening to residents about what they need most.
In Fairfield, families and school leaders named food access a top priority, as the area had been considered a food desert for nearly eight years. The opening of Carver Jones Market in 2024 brought long-awaited relief, yet many families still face barriers to affordable, nutritious food.
In response, United Way joined Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, a United Way partner agency, to open school-based pantries at C.J. Donald Middle School and Fairfield High Preparatory School. These pantries are part of inCommunity’s broader goal of connecting families to trusted resources where they already live, learn and gather.
How the Pantries Work
Each month during the school year, the Community Food Bank delivers several thousand pounds of food to Fairfield City Schools. Working with district social workers and the district’s mental health coordinator, United Way staff identify families who may benefit while also accepting direct applications.
United Way’s Community School Coordinators, who serve as direct connections between each school and its surrounding community, pack boxes according to the Food Bank’s nutritional guidelines and distribute them discreetly to protect families’ privacy.
“We make sure to honor each family’s dignity and reassure them that we understand their situation is temporary, and that we’re here to support them however we can,” said Chivon Morse, Director of Place-based Partnerships at United Way.
Currently, the pantries serve about 25 families per school each month, reaching roughly 200 individuals across the Fairfield school district.
Building More than Food Access
Fighting hunger is essential, but it’s only one part of helping communities thrive. In Fairfield, United Way is connecting partners that provide mentoring, tutoring, literacy programs and conflict resolution — each identified by local residents and educators as a priority.
“The community and school leadership identified half a dozen priorities, and we’ve been working to bring in partners,” said Morse. “And not all of them are UWCA-funded — some are just wonderful people in the community who want to help.”
This blog originally appeared in Bham Now’s “200+ people in Fairfield have better access to food thanks to new food pantries.”