Mission Makers
Grace Klein Community’s new partnership with Pathways United Methodist Church(UMC) in Pelham will provide additional space needed to help GKC reach its 2025 goal of rescuing 3.2 million pounds of food to feed over 650,000 people in communities located in the 30 county area of Birmingham. Joining several other churches in the area that provide Grace Klein Community space, Pelham’s Pathways UMC will allow for more food rescue. “It’s not about us, Grace Klein Community or Pathways UMC, but Jesus moving all of us to collectively join hands so He can make what seems impossible possible. God is writing our story and showing us in real time what He will do with our yes when we choose to live by faith and unite around Jesus,” explains Jenny Waltman, founder of Grace Klein Community.
Waltman says she is open-handed and expectant for what God will do. “Over the last 14 years, we have looked forward, running after Jesus and in obedience to His plan for Grace Klein Community. Only in looking back at the end of 2024, have we begun to see and understand the radical, extraordinary impact of our collective yes to God. If He can grow us over 34,000% in 14 years, we cannot fathom the future or how God can use us to share resources, build relationships, and bring restoration to our communities.”
At the recent kick off announcement of the expansion, Waltman and her team along with Pathways leadership shared how the space in Pelham will be used once it is renovated. Plans include an additional hub intake and outflow of food, an in-kind coffee house, a sustainability kitchen to increase food preservation, sleeping and bathroom facilities to house large out of state serve teams, and a church facility for Pathways. GKC is currently seeking donors to help fund the expansion by giving a donation to a particular space in the project.
Grace Klein Community primarily operates through volunteers who devote their time to serving the community. Through its FeedBHM initiative and a food rescue app, www.app.foodrescue.us, they engage food rescue heroes to rescue good food – otherwise enroute to landfills – and redirect to provide food support to Alabamians. With 6 drive-through locations and 318 community partners, volunteers provided food support to over 600,000 unique individuals in 2024 in Central Ala. In addition to food support, Grace Klein also offers assistance for other basic needs such as diapers, hygiene products and household items as well as school supplies and Christmas support.
Grace Klein Community hopes to complete the common space and additional food rescue hub at the Pelham location by the end of April 2025. Learn more about the project and how you can help at www.expansion.gkcbhm.org. †
