Fighting Hunger & Delivering Hope: United Way Meals on Wheels

March 16, 2026September 22, 2025 by Laurie Stroud

Mission Makers

“Last year, United Way Meals on Wheels delivered more than 230,000 meals in the community. And that was all thanks to the generosity of nearly 800 volunteers,” explains Candace O’Neil, VP of Community Engagement, United Way of Central Alabama. O’Neil emphasizes how volunteers do much more than deliver hot balanced meals to homebound senior adults and disabled persons in Jefferson County.

Meals on Wheels prep — There are a number of ways that you can volunteer with Meals on Wheels from prepping to packing to delivering meals. Learn more at www.mowjeffco.org.

Meals on Wheels delivery volunteers provide much needed socialization to those who may not otherwise have that on a day-to-day basis. “The volunteers, they start to learn the seniors, and they build relationships. They both start to look out for each other,” says O’Neil, adding, “We know that with the volunteers checking in on our seniors, it offers independence. It allows seniors to age longer in their home safely, and it just promotes their well-being overall.”

Happy Client of Meals on Wheels — A homebound senior age 60 or older in Jefferson County can be referred to United Way Meals on Wheels. To learn more and request service call 1-800-Age-Line.

Since establishing Meals on Wheels in Jefferson County almost ten years ago, the program has significantly grown. “Today, we have about 11 staff who help us operate the program, but it’s also thanks to nearly 800 volunteers as well who help us.” The program makes it easy for volunteers to set the parameters on their commitment from choosing a certain day or days of the month, volunteering individually or as a group, and choosing a task such as prepping and packing meals to delivering to a certain neighborhood. “We’ll also train them so that way they know exactly what to do,” says O’Neil. “So, it’s a great experience, an easy experience, and it takes as little as an hour of your time to do a good deed like this in the community.” Easy includes having a number of meal pick-up sites near delivery routes. “We partner with senior centers and churches to have drop sites so that way the meals are much closer to residents and volunteers can pick up there and deliver to the homebound seniors on an easier basis,” explains O’Neil.

If you know someone in Jefferson County you believe could benefit from Meals on Wheels, simply call Meals on Wheels at 1-800-Age-Line. “From there a specialist will complete a screening assessment,” explains O’Neil. “And then depending on that assessment, they will either refer to Meals on Wheels or if for some reason they don’t qualify, they’ll refer them to other resources that are available to them in our community to help.”

You can make a difference. The Meals on Wheels program offers you three different ways to help them continue this important service to the homebound of our community. “We like to say that people can give[donate], they can volunteer, and they can advocate for us.” Learn more by visiting www.mowjeffco.org. †

Watch the video below to learn more about the Meals on Wheels program and how you can get involved.

August 28, 2025August 27, 2025 by Birmingham Christian Family

bigstock Buck Whitetail Deer Odocoileu 2425553

The Great Outdoors

presented by: Mark’s Outdoors

Deer hunting can be an awesome time spent between father and son. Seen here is Mark Whitlock, Jr. with his Dad Mark Whitlock, founder of Mark’s Outdoors. Circa. 1999.

With deer season opening on October 15, now is the time to make sure you are prepared to hunt. Making yourself a checklist will help insure that you have everything you need to make your opening day a successful one.

Go ahead and pull out all your camo and see if you have all the pieces that you need. Early season is usually still pretty warm. Make sure that you have plenty of layering options so you are ready for anything Mother Nature throws at you.
Thoroughly check all of your safety gear including harnesses and hunters orange pieces.
If you hunt from a shooting house, go ahead and make sure that nothing has turned it into a summer home during the off season. Insects are usually the main offenders so pack a can of wasp spray just in case. If you plan on using a climbing or ladder stand, inspect them to make sure that everything is still tight and in good working order.
Last but not least, check your equipment. Inspect bows and rifles for anything that looks out of the ordinary or could become a safety issue later in the season. Here at Mark’s Outdoors, one of our experienced gun smiths or bow techs can look them over for you.

As always, Mark’s is your one stop shop for all things hunting. Swing by and let us help you make sure that you are ready to bag that trophy buck. September 26-27, 2025, we will be hosting our preseason Fall Hunting Sale with lots of sales items. Look forward to seeing you!

–Mark’s Outdoors

1400-B Montgomery Highway, Vestavia 35216

205-822-2010, www.marksoutdoors.com

Don’t Miss Dove Days!

Be sure to join us for our annual Dove Days on September 4-6, 2025, at Mark’s. We will have lots of great savings and fun as a way to thank all of our loyal customers. It is because of you that we get to do what we love every day and carry on Mark Whitlock’s legacy of helping people prepare for quality time in God’s great outdoors. We couldn’t do it without you!

August 27, 2025 by Laurie Stroud

The Family Pet

“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:32

This verse reflects the sacred calling of stewardship that God gave humanity to nurture, protect, and honor the life He made. Yet in a world that celebrates the fast and flashy, the young and the new, it’s easy to overlook the beauty and wisdom that comes with age. This is true not only for people, but also pets who’ve spent faithful years walking beside someone, only to find themselves alone. Like Ranger, whose journey led him to a shelter with an uncertain future. It’s hard to imagine how a dog so gentle could end up without a home. Sadly, it happens more often than we’d like to believe. With a sugar-frosted face and a heart full of grace, this 12-year-old Labrador mix was given a second chance by Two by Two Rescue.

Ranger in bow tie — Ranger is a 12-year-old Labrador mix who still has his boyish charm and is ready to love his forever family! To learn more about adopting this sweet boy, click here.

You might think, “An older dog? Isn’t that a lot to take on?” Wait- don’t count him out! Ranger isn’t ready to cash in on senior discounts just yet and still carries his boyish charm. One flash of his teddy bear eyes that say “hey, can we snuggle now?” and you’ll understand. He’s a model guest in his foster home being house trained, polite with other dogs and children, calm, content and quietly devoted. Adopting Ranger means embracing slow walks over fast thrills, peaceful naps over chaos, and receiving the honor of sharing in his most faithful years. If your place has “Ranger’s Retirement Home” written all over it, this delightful gentleman would love to meet you. Honestly, he’s so worth it!

Two by Two is a faith based, no kill rescue whose mission is to give life to abandoned, abused, stray, and distressed animals. Saving animal lives for more than 20 years, Two by Two operates out of Birmingham, Ala., and has coordinated the rescue and adoption of cats, dogs, horses, and even a few pot-bellied pigs. Two by Two has placed dogs in almost forty states and even a few abroad! Come see us at the Celebrate the Family Expo on September 13, 2025. To learn more about Two by Two visit www.twobytworescue.com. †

August 27, 2025 by Laurie Stroud

The Home Front

In the early 1900s, J. C. Standridge courted Nettie Jane Hudson. In those horse and buggy days, the social rule on dating had to do with sunlight. Dating was to be done in the light of day, and the girl must be home before dark. One afternoon, time slipped away and the sun was setting quickly. Jane realized she was about to be guilty of a huge social blunder. She was not going to get home before dark, and she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was going to be in mighty big trouble.

“Are you gonna marry me or not? Because if you don’t, I’m gonna get a whippin’ when I get home?!” Jane exclaimed. Nuptials were held on November 8, 1914, and they were a very blessed couple, indeed. Birthing four boys in succession before J.C. suffered a severe mining accident on January 12, 1921. Their youngest baby was two days old at the time of the accident. J.C. passed away in 1925. Jane remarried Robert Hafley in 1927 and added a daughter to the mix. As a result, she became Granny Hafley to the Standridge family. When visiting her neat, quaint home with her yard full of flowers, you were always welcomed with open arms and the very best Southern home cooking.

Now Granny Hafley began working at Hayden High School in 1939, and the whole community came to call her Aunt Jane. She served hot lunches to the thirty students who brought canned goods from home for her to prepare. She served it up for ten cents a plate. The older girls helped by serving the plates and washing up the dishes. As the area grew, she fed more and more students, eventually serving as many as 500 students and faculty a day. As a result, more lunchroom workers came to work under Jane. A typical lunch might be butterbeans or peas, which were shelled by the lunchroom workers, fried okra, corn shucked by the lunchroom workers, corn bread, and cherry pie. But what Aunt Jane is forever known for is the lady who made the best rolls! To this day, when people find out my husband David is a great-grandson of Aunt Jane, people will speak of her with great fondness, tell us an Aunt Jane story, and with their mouths watering, ask us if we have the recipe for Aunt Jane’s rolls.

-Danna Standridge, Author of Happiness is Homemade Y’all! Meet her Saturday September 13, 2025 at the Celebrate the Family Expo. For speaking engagements and cooking demonstrations, email [email protected]. Join her in the kitchen on Facebook @DannaSwannStandridge and YouTube @dannastandridge8749.

Aunt Jane’s Rolls

*All recipes are written as Granny Hafley wrote them.

When making rolls, she would use 50 pounds of flour per day. For the very best rolls, she used lard; it rises better.

Ingredients:

50 lbs. flour
5 packages yeast
¾ cups sugar
½ cup salt
¾ cups shortening or lard

Instructions:

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix other ingredients together. Add enough warm water to make a soft dough. Let rise 1 hour. Bake at 450 degrees.

August 29, 2025August 27, 2025 by Laurie Stroud

Special Feature

Become Greek for the weekend at the 52nd Annual Greek Food Festival set for October 2-4, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. The Greek Festival is Birmingham’s oldest and most anticipated cultural event that offers an abundance of delicious Greek cuisine.

Greek Food Festival food on plates — Food plates are individually priced, and the Greek pastries will be pre- packaged and sold in the food lines.

The festival has been an act of love from Birmingham’s Greek community to the city going back four generations. Enjoy delicious Greek cuisine prepared by the parishioners of the community and served by them during the Greek Food Festival weekend. All entrees and desserts are homemade and are comprised of only the freshest and finest ingredients available. In addition to the authentic Greek food, you will enjoy Greek music, dancing, and a warm spirited atmosphere that embraces everyone as family. Greek dancers of all ages will be performing all three days.

As thousands of returning patrons can attest, you will leave a devoted fan. The open-air festival offers free admission and outside tented seating for dining will be available. Food plates are individually priced, and the Greek pastries will be pre-packaged and sold in the food lines. Be sure to stroll through The Greek Market Place which has Mediterranean and Orthodox souvenirs. Free parking is available in the former Liberty National parking garage located one block away on 20th Street (Richard Arrington Blvd) between 3rd and 4th Avenue. The convenient drive-thru is available all three days from 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Holy Trinity Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church — Guests of the Greek Food Festival are invited to tour the beautiful Holy Trinity – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church.

The Holy Trinity – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox parish was chartered in 1906 and is the fourth oldest Greek Orthodox parish in the Southeast. The beautiful and inspiring Byzantine interior of the basilica enhances the Orthodox Christian’s worship of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Self-guided tours will be available during the three-day festival and parishioners will be available to answer any questions. Since 1972 and with your help, the Greek Festival has donated over three million dollars to local and national charities. In recent years, these charities have included: Children’s of Alabama, Magic Moments, The Bell Center, The Exceptional Foundation, The Ronald McDonald House, The Firehouse Ministries, Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama, Pathways, Family Connection, The Wellhouse, Jimmie Hale Mission, Safe House, Alabama Kidney Foundation, and more. The Greek Festival is made possible by Holy Trinity Holy Cross Greek Orthodox parishioners and generous sponsors including Alabama Beverage and Coca Cola. For more details, visit www.GreekFestBirmingham.org. †

August 27, 2025 by Laurie Stroud

Encouraging Word

There is a familiar parable Jesus mentions in Luke 15 referred to as the Prodigal Son. It is about a younger son who requested his inheritance early. Upon receiving it, he left the security of home and traveled to a distant country. This poor decision and a series of bad choices led to a detrimental change of lifestyle. The Bible says he squandered his estate on loose living. With his money gone, he was unable to take care of his needs, and he became destitute. He eventually found himself in the “pig pen.” Being overwhelmed and at the end of his rope, he began his journey home. Let’s look at the eight steps he took to find his way back home.

1. First, the son recognized his condition. Luke 15:17 says, “he came to his senses.” He acknowledged his need and accepted responsibility for it.

2. Next, he remembered what he left behind- the security of home, the values he had been taught and the wholesome way of life.

3. After remembering, he then decided to return home (Luke 15:18) and humbly ask his father to take him back as a hired servant.

4. He repented of his sin (Luke 15:18-19). He confessed his sin and decided to forsake it and ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

5. He was received by his father (Luke 15:20). His father showed him compassion and welcomed him home with open arms.

6. After being received, he was reconciled to his father. To be reconciled means to restore friendly relations and to come back together (Luke 15:22).

7. He was restored (Luke 15:22). He was accepted back into the family as a son and received a robe, family ring and sandals.

8. Finally, there was rejoicing (Luke 15:23-24). A celebration was given in honor of the son’s return home.

As Christians, there may be times when we stumble, get tripped up by sin, or stray off course in our walk with God. There may be occasions when our struggles are intense, and our suffering seems unbearable. We may be tempted to temporarily take our focus off Jesus and lose our way. When this occurs, let’s learn from the prodigal the steps to take and return home to the Father!

-Tony Cooper

Director Emeritus of the Jimmie Hale Mission

www.jimmiehalemission.com

August 27, 2025 by Laurie Stroud

Parenting Points

We live in a challenging world, where we need the skill of resilience – the ability to recover from setbacks and keep going. We naturally want to protect kids from the challenges and hardships of this world, but the reality is that no matter how much we may want to, we cannot keep our kids from hardship and challenge. If we can’t protect them, we must be faithful to equip them. So, what are some ways we can equip them with resilience?

Powerful Examples from Scripture. The Bible is full of stories of people who faced significant challenges yet trusted in God’s promises to sustain them. For example, the story of Joseph demonstrates resilience in the face of betrayal, false accusations, and imprisonment. Despite his hardships, Joseph remained faithful to God, and in time, God elevated him to a position of influence. We can discuss these stories from Scripture with our kids to teach them the power of resilience and the faithfulness of God, who meets us in our struggles.

Encouraging Passages. As we seek to teach our kids about the power of resilience, the Bible has some great scriptures that help us frame the challenges and hardships of life.

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Psalm 46:1 ESV: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

We can memorize Bible verses with our kids to remind them of the truth when they face challenging situations and teach them to pray to seek God for His help because He is faithful and always with them.

Modeling Resistance. Kids need real-life examples of being resilient in difficult times. Share stories of times when you faced difficulties but trusted in God’s promises. Show your children that resilience isn’t about never falling, but about standing back up— grounded in faith.

Though we cannot keep our kids from challenges and difficulties, we can teach them about God’s faithfulness through our own stories and Scripture. We can remind them and ourselves that no matter what they may face, God will be with them. And even on the days when they fail and fall, God is there as a loving Father waiting to pick them up and encourage them to take another step.

-Dr. Ben Birdsong

Director of European Expansion for First Priority Global Ministries

www.benbirdsong.com

August 27, 2025August 26, 2025 by Laurie Stroud

Mission Makers

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40

This verse is the inspiration behind the faith-based nonprofit LIVE2540. Luke Roberts, Development Director for LIVE2540, explains, “We believe that by providing free, quality, and compassionate healthcare to Liberia’s most vulnerable children, we are directly serving the Lord through the work. And so, living out Matthew 25:40 is the root of our name.”

Child in Liberia — The Jesus Loves Me Children’s Center helps hundreds of Liberian children every week.

Child in Liberia 2 — The children are often suffering from malaria, malnutrition, and other treatable illnesses.

The Inspiration. Roberts explains that his father, Daryl Roberts, founder of LIVE2540, went on a mission trip to Liberia in 2008 and visited an orphanage. “He went into this orphanage that had 67 children, and it was just in shambles. There was no access to food, no access to a clean water source, no education, and they were living in mud huts.” Roberts explains that this experience broke his father’s heart. “And so, he immediately called home, and we started the fundraising work.” Over the years, LIVE2540 has been able to help more orphanages, build schools and dorms, and provide discipleship. “In 2019, we really felt a tug from the Lord to kind of transition more onto the medical side because Liberia’s medical system is the eighth worst in the world,” Roberts says.

Jesus Loves Me Children’s Center. Founded in 2021, this 18,000 square-foot facility helps 35,000 children in Liberia every year. With both an inpatient and outpatient ward, the facility’s services include malnutrition care, access to medicine, and a trained medical staff. “The Lord has been super faithful in letting the mothers and children of Liberia know that we are here,” Roberts shares, adding that the center has 106 full-time staff including doctors, nurses, and janitorial and administrative staff. “All of these individuals are actively walking with the Lord and make it a point of emphasis in their daily lives to pour into the children and mothers and pray over the families as they come through our clinic,” Roberts explains. The center also shares the Gospel through images of Bible stories. “Liberia has the third-worst literacy rate in the entire world. But having these visuals makes the Gospel a lot more understandable. And it opens doors for conversations, and we have seen that time and time again,” Roberts reflects, adding, “So we are not only seeing health restored, but we are seeing souls coming and encountering Jesus through the love that they are being shown.”

Live2540 T shirts — Pictured here are some of the merchandise products available for purchase that directly help the LIVE2540 team further their reach and serve more children in Liberia.

LIVE2540 Hats — Items will be available for purchase at the upcoming Celebrate the Family Expo Saturday September 13, 2025.

Learn More. You can support the mission of LIVE2540 in multiple ways. One practical way is by purchasing the ministry’s merchandise that directly supports their mission. This merchandise includes t-shirts and hats plus beautiful handmade baskets and jewelry from various African countries. Stop by the LIVE2540 booth during the Celebrate the Family Expo on September 13, 2025 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. to learn more about this ministry and how you can get involved. You can also purchase merchandise featured in their online store at www.bestshirtonearth.com. Visit www.live2540.org to read more about the growing impact LIVE2540 is having on the most vulnerable in Liberia. †

Watch the video below to learn more about how LIVE2540 is changing lives for the glory of Christ in Liberia.

August 29, 2025August 26, 2025 by Laurie Stroud

Mission Makers

Brought to you by: Community Partner Sawyer Solutions, sawyersolutionsllc.com

Did you know that human trafficking is the second largest and fastest growing crime in the United States? The state of Alabama is not exempt from this crime, explains Alexa James, CEO and Founder of Blanket Fort Hope and Tara Littleton, Administrative Assistant. “In Birmingham alone, an estimated $110 million is spent annually on commercial sex. According to the BEAMS [Bringing Exploitation of Alabama Minors to a Stop] Study, up to 57% of recovered trafficking victims in our state are minors,” Littleton says.

Seen here is the Blanket Fort Hope Restoration Home located in Columbiana. Projected to be completed this fall, the home will provide a safe space for female child trafficking survivors ages 12-18 to find healing and freedom.

Filling a Need. Despite the staggering need, Alabama has only a few dedicated residential beds available for local child trafficking survivors- far too few to meet the overwhelming demand. That is why Blanket Fort Hope is opening their first restorative home this year. “This home will provide a highly structured, family centered, trauma-informed residential program for girls ages 12-18 who have been trafficked or are at risk of being trafficked,” Littleton explains, adding, “This first home focuses on stabilization, healing, and the foundational work of trauma recovery in a safe, 24/7 supervised setting.” The restoration home is expected to open this fall. “From the moment a child enters our doors, we are committed to walking with her- body, mind, and spirit- toward lasting hope and restoration.” In addition to the restoration home, Blanket Fort Hope is developing transitional housing for young women ages 18-21. Littleton shares that Blanket Fort Hope also focuses on prevention. “Beyond restoration, we are committed to prevention- offering community training, school programs, and partnerships with churches, law enforcement, and other agencies.” The organization is also a Child Placing Agency. “We recruit, license, and support Christian foster families across Alabama, creating more safe homes for vulnerable children from birth to age 21,” Littleton says.

Hold the Fort Race. If you’re interested in supporting the mission of Blanket Fort Hope, save the date for the Annual Hold the Fort 10K, 5K, and 1-Mile Warrior Walk on September 20, 2025 at Oak Mountain State Park beginning at 8 a.m. “This exciting, family-friendly event is open to all ages and offers a meaningful way to support the mission of Blanket Fort Hope,” explains Littleton. Visit www.holdthefortraces.com to register. To learn more about other ways to support Blanket Fort Hope, including volunteer opportunities, visit www.blanketforthope.org.

-Melissa Armstrong

Brought to you by: Community Partner, Sawyer Solutions
Technology with Care and Compassion
• Outsourced I.T. Support
• Cyber Security
• Help Desk Solutions
www.sawyersolutionsllc.com
844-448-7767

August 26, 2025 by Laurie Stroud

Miracle Moments

Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, mollymaid.com

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

Israel and his houseparents — Israel is seen here with his houseparents at his graduation from Westbrook Christian School.

My story starts the day my mother died. I was five. As the youngest, I didn’t understand the impact it would have on my life. My dad remarried, and my stepmother was young and had a time taking on the responsibility of raising five kids. I can see how difficult this must have been. I had a hard time adjusting too. Years passed, and things got more difficult. We moved a lot, changing schools often. Money was scarce. School was hard being poor. But my dad loved us greatly and shared the love of Jesus. I got older and started getting into trouble. I got caught shoplifting – my wakeup call. I decided this isn’t how I wanted things to be. One night, I came home late and there wasn’t anyone there to let me into the apartment. I ended up waiting in my car, listening to dangerous things happening around me. I did not want to live here.

A week later, I was dropped off at Big Oak Ranch. I knew that I needed a change and was hoping this was it. My houseparents were a blessing and treated me like their own. Mom Speer became a mother to me, filling that empty, hurt space left from my mom’s death, while Pop Speer was a rock. He taught me you must do the right thing. My time with them was full of meaningful and memorable moments. At Westbrook, I was surrounded by coaches and teachers who genuinely cared and wanted success for each student. I met my wife, Angela, at Westbrook. After graduation, we went to college near each other. I proposed to Angela and realized I needed to seriously plan. I moved back to Southside to be a marine technician at Buck’s Island. We married in 2006. Two daughters followed, Rebekah and Arianna. I have worked at Buck’s Island for over 20 years. I earned a promotion to management and led several departments. Being at Buck’s has been one of the best things. I’ve put my mind and heart into something, and it has been a success for my family.

My growth started at the Ranch. It is because of Christ that I am where I am today. He gets all the credit. The Lord put people in my path who kept me safe and strengthened my foundation in Him. I firmly believe that if we allow Christ to open and close doors in our lives, and call to Him, He will answer.

-Israel

Fighting Hunger & Delivering Hope: United Way Meals on Wheels

Subscribe FREE and be the first to get our good news - delivered right to your inbox.

Connect on Social Media