Grace Klein Community started by matching a need with a resource and has grown into a nonprofit with a major local and global impact.
The need that was seen was food insecurity. The resource was food waste. One day Jenny Waltman, founder of Grace Klein Community, realized that the solution could be “food rescue.”
Liz Harrison, community engagement coordinator, explained.
“What we do is we partner with grocery stores, restaurants, businesses — anywhere there’s food. Maybe it’s right at the sell-by date or something that just isn’t being used. In most cases, that food would end up in a landfill.
“But we have food rescue heroes — (our) volunteers. We use an app called Food Rescue US. All the rescue opportunities are listed in the app. A food rescue hero would then view the app and see what opportunities are available, choose which ones work with their schedule and then are empowered to go pick up the food from the restaurant, grocery store or business and bring it to one of our hub locations.”
Once the food is at a hub location, other volunteers log it, noting the organization for in-kind donations. Then the food is distributed to other nonprofits that feed people, or it is taken by other volunteers directly to those in need.
Their 2024 goal is to rescue 3,200,000 pounds of food that will feed 544,000 people in Alabama.
Purpose
Grace Klein Community continues to grow beyond FeedBHM — the food rescue initiative of Grace Klein Community — by branching out into other opportunities to serve.
“Grace Klein is a community of people that really wants to make a difference by meeting physical needs of those in the community. Its purpose is to bring restoration to individuals, families and communities,” Harrison said.
Another goal is to empower people and build relationships. All recipients are encouraged to give back by volunteering.
“Not everybody can get out of the situation they’re in. It’s a challenge, but we just want to kind of bridge that gap and build those relationships.
“It’s all so that we can shine the light of Jesus in the world. You know you can’t talk to somebody about a relationship with the Lord you know without also pouring into them and doing something good. I think it’s just a good combination of the two,” Harrison said.
Grace Klein Community’s effectiveness is fueled by volunteers and community partnerships.
The partners vary — and some have nothing to do with food.
One example is the Birmingham Squadron, a professional basketball team in the NBA G League. They give tickets to Grace Klein Community that can be offered to partners, volunteers and church groups as a way to give back for their donations and hard work.
Grace Klein Community also has Bible studies, ladies’ nights and classes on leadership and nonprofit development. They are always working toward adding new events.
Connecting people
One of their events is focused more on connecting people, businesses and ministries with each other than on obtaining partnerships with Grace Klein Community.
This free event — Networking at Noon — is held once a month and has about 60 people who attend. Jackson King, community and business development liaison, works with Harrison to plan and lead the meetings while volunteers, sponsors, donations and supporters provide what’s needed to make it happen.
“It’s a different type of networking. It feels more welcoming, more like a family environment. Everybody is friendly. It’s a great place to come and let people know who you are, not just about what you do — the heart behind what you do,” Harrison said.
Local restaurants provide lunch, and one of Grace Klein Community’s business partners is featured.
The time consists of what they call a “word of encouragement to business professionals,” door prizes and an opportunity to network, swap business cards and fellowship.
Speed networking with a twist
The focus is speed networking, but with a twist.
Like a typical networking event, each person can share about their business or nonprofit. But at Networking at Noon, each also answers the question asked related to the word of encouragement.
“I want to bring value to the people who come,” Harrison shared. “So when I’m thinking about the topic and question and praying about it, every single time God reveals to me during a time of worship what I am to talk about that’s relevant to the business community — while focusing on not just the practical but the spiritual side.”
After the meeting Harrison gets to see Grace Klein Community’s dream of bringing people together in real time.
“Even if we go over time, people are still there connecting with each other, building relationships, doing business together. Seeing collaborations between different organizations, different people — that’s really heartwarming.
“Then we have had several moments when somebody shares their story and their testimony of how God has brought them out of addiction or out of a really hard situation or something that you would think could ruin somebody’s life — how they came out of it and God restored them.
“When you hear those stories, it’s just incredible and very faith-building.”
During Harrison’s year working with Grace Klein Community, she has one main takeaway.
“He sustains us. He provides for us, and our provisions don’t always look like what we think. But He is there, and He has not left us.”
To learn more about Grace Klein Community, to volunteer or partner or to sign up for their annual golf tournament fundraiser, go to www.gracekleincommunity.com.
Share with others: