Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/977628
40 The Elevate grant program helps empower nonprofits like the food bank by providing funding over a two-year period to support unique, worthwhile community projects and offers workshops where recipients can meet to share best practices. Along with receiving funding, the food bank joined with other grant recipients for a data visualization workshop to learn how to present analytics and data effectively, and how to make graphics more appealing. "Elevate grants offer a unique opportunity to support a variety of initiatives that propel the progress of our state," said Alabama Power Foundation President Myla Calhoun. "It's important that we continue to work together to ensure that basic necessities are met for those in need and to support programs like the mobile grocery store. We also host workshops where organizations can receive free training opportunities that have a lasting impact and can lead to future opportunities. That's what makes the Elevate program so special." "We are so appreciative of the Alabama Power Foundation's generosity," Strickland said. "The foundation's grant was tremendously critical to the launch of the Corner Market." According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap, 19.2 percent of Alabama's population, about 919,670 people, is food insecure. That means they are hungry or can't afford enough food. Additionally, the state has the second-highest food hardship rate in the nation, with 25.2 percent of Alabamians struggling to feed their families. Since 1982, the CFCA has been filling the hunger gap for central Alabama, an area that includes more than a quarter-million people in poverty. The CFCA serves 11 million meals a year and feeds 60,000 to 80,000 people a month in 12 counties. It manages this feat with the help of 235 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and community groups. The Corner Market is one more way the CFCA is helping to fill empty bellies. In a typical month, about 150 people shop at the market, and the food bank plans to extend that reach by adding Lincoln and Riverside to the monthly route this spring. "That's the beauty of the mobile grocery store; we can go where we're needed," Strickland said. "The market has received an overwhelmingly positive response. People are so happy to see us when we come out each week, particularly seniors who are uncomfortable driving long distances, or simply don't have reliable transportation." M a r k e t Happy customer.