Alabama church’s food and toy giveaway brings joy to families at Christmas

Volunteers work to distribute food and toys Dec. 16 through an annual holiday outreach ministry launched more than a decade ago by St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Jasper, Alabama. Photo: Diocese of Alabama

[Diocese of Alabama] For more than a decade, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Jasper, Alabama, has marked the Advent season by serving families across three north-central Alabama counties through its annual Food Drive and Toy Giveaway. This year’s event, held Dec. 16, reached nearly 900 families from Walker, Winston, and Cullman counties.

Organized in partnership with The Trace Church and supported by more than 30 local organizations, including the Walker Area Community Foundation and the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, the drive distributed bags filled with a variety of food items and toys for children up to age 12. More than 1,200 families registered for the event, underscoring the ongoing need for food assistance in the region.

“The Christmas giveaway is what Christmas is really about, people and churches coming together,” said the Rev. Corrie Cabes, rector of St. Mary’s. “This is what the Kingdom of God looks like. People come wondering if there will be enough, and they leave with abundance.”

Cabes attributes the ministry’s impact to the generosity of grants, partners and both named and anonymous donors, as well as to volunteers who return year after year. She emphasized that inclusion is central to the outreach, highlighting the involvement of diverse organizations and individuals, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

According to Mike McClendon, a parishioner involved since the ministry’s inception, this Christmas outreach began in 2013 at St. Mary’s parish hall, serving 100 families in its first year. The ministry’s initial $4,000 grant came from the Walker Area Community Foundation, a philanthropic organization that awards millions of dollars in grants annually.

As participation grew and because of St. Mary’s location along a busy street, church leaders began conversations with The Trace Church, whose larger campus would allow the ministry to expand. For the Rev. George Barrera, pastor of The Trace Church for 32 years, the partnership emerged as a clear answer to prayer.

“Jesus’ last prayer in John 17 was for unity, bringing the whole world together,” Barrera said. “We may not be able to go to the ends of the world, but we do have a responsibility to our community. Partnering with St. Mary’s is one way we have seen Jesus at work through relationships and a shared vision for a bright future.”

Grants from the Walker Area Community Foundation have increased substantially over the years, enabling the ministry to expand its reach, ensure its longevity, and hire a full-time director and a part-time assistant. Jennifer Andrews, who volunteered with the ministry for several years before accepting the director role, describes the work as extending beyond food distribution.

“This ministry offers human connection,” Andrews said. “It’s a chance to sit down, talk and truly see one another. Through every step, Jesus is present, and the work reflects a strong, love-based faith.”

Data collected through St. Mary’s regulatory software show that two-thirds of participants visit the ministry five times or fewer, indicating short-term need. Of the remaining third, 80% are senior citizens living on fixed Social Security incomes, while 20% live with disabilities that limit their ability to improve their financial situation.

The Christmas Giveaway is an extension of St. Mary’s Food and Diaper Bank, which began in the 1990s when parishioners donated nonperishable food items to families in need. Today, the ministry distributes more than 300 grocery bags and serves breakfast to 200 individuals every Tuesday. In November, in response to increased SNAP-related needs, the ministry served more than 400 individuals each week and distributed between 425 and 550 bags of groceries.

Jessica Hamilton, a supervisor with the Walker County Department of Human Resources, has supported the ministry for five years.

“Some of the biggest turnouts happen when SNAP benefits were cut out,” she said. “During that time, I saw something remarkable where people in the community stepped up in ways I’d never seen before. Even when folks had just a little extra, they gave.”

For many families, this outreach is essential. A family of four who are regular recipients shared that it is often their only source of Christmas gifts.

This year’s event involved 150 volunteers, including Spanish interpreters, who served in roles ranging from food packing and registration to truck driving and assisting families through the drive-through. Many volunteers were also available to offer prayer and pastoral support.

For Donna Corbett, a St. Mary’s parishioner and third-time volunteer in the Christmas Giveaway, the ministry has become deeply personal.

“After losing my husband, this has been healthier than sitting alone in a room,” she said. “It brings real satisfaction, and over time, you build relationships with both participants and fellow volunteers.”

A new partner this year is Baptist Health Walker Hospital, a private, not-for-profit, faith-based health care system serving Central Alabama. Dewight Davis, the hospital’s director of surgery, said staff participation reflects their calling to care beyond hospital walls.

“Serving the community outside of the hospital has been incredibly rewarding,” Davis said. “It’s a meaningful partnership.”

— Nana Afia Tenkoramaa is director of communications for the Diocese of Alabama.