COMMUNITY KITCHENS OF BIRMINGHAM

On November 11, 1980, Community Kitchens opened its doors to serve meals to the homless and hungry. This kitchen was opened during a time when recession gripped Birmingham which caused a spike in unemployment. Father Maurice Branscomb saw the impact of this recession on the downtown area and those who lived here and responded by starting Community Kitchens at St. Andrew's Church. The first simple meal of "stone soup" was served to only 2 people. By the end of the year, the kitchen was open 5 days a week. These were the humble beginnings of the program that exists today.

Today, Community Kitchens of Birmingham provides a lunch meal to approximately 200 people each day, 365 days per year. Hot lunches are served seven days a week and volunteers from churches, civic groups and schools prepare and serve our weekend meals. Volunteers provide 15% of all our meals and donate about 7,000 hours annually. These meals are served in two locations: Southside at St. Andrwe's Episcopal Church - 1024 12th St South and in Woodlawn at Grace Episcopal Church - 5712 1st Ave N.