By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
HUNTSVILLE, AL — The Downtown Rescue Mission is urgently calling on the community to help address a critical shortage of non-perishable food items, which threatens its ability to feed Huntsville’s homeless and food-insecure population.
Located at 1400 Evangel Drive, the mission serves thousands each year through daily meals, emergency shelter, and life-assistance programs. According to spokesperson Amber Capello, rising demand and declining food donations have put a strain on the shelter’s pantry shelves.
“The food shortage directly threatens our ability to meet the nutritional needs of those we serve,” the mission said in a public statement.
The plea for donations comes just weeks after Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study revealed a troubling rise in food insecurity across north Alabama, now affecting nearly 190,000 people in the region.
Most-Needed Food Items Include:
- Canned meats (tuna, SPAM, Vienna sausages)
- Boxed meals (macaroni and cheese, Rice-A-Roni, pasta)
- Canned vegetables, soups, and chili (pull-top preferred)
- Peanut butter, cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup
- Snacks like chips, crackers, Pop-Tarts, and cookies
How to Help
Donations can be dropped off any day between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the mission’s main facility. Monetary donations can be made online at downtownrescuemission.org.
In 2023, the Downtown Rescue Mission served over 442,000 meals and distributed nearly 4,000 food boxes. Since its founding in 1975, the organization has provided food, shelter, clothing, and medical outreach to men, women, and children in need.