Saving food: AMIIC helping put meals on tables during the holidays

HUNTSVILLE — Everyone in America should have access to healthy food and, during the holidays, the need is greater than ever, as the lack seems more profound.

Huntsville’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and Integration Center and Franklin, Tenn.-based One Generation Away are helping struggling families throughout North Alabama, Middle Tennessee, and the Florida Panhandle put a warm, healthy meal on the table.

The mission is to retrieve high-quality food from grocery stores, restaurants, caterers, and farms before it goes to waste, and give it to those who need it.

Throughout the month, AMIIC is a collection point to accept nonexpired food and financial donations for OneGenAway.

Chris Whitney, founder and CEO of OneGenAway, said the partnership is a community effort.

“Food plays such a huge role in our holiday celebrations as families, friends, and communities gather together in celebration,” he said. “We are honored to come alongside families experiencing food insecurity during this time to offer food and hope when their supply is low.

“If you are able to donate food, your time, or your money this December, your impact will be felt by your neighbors in times of need.”

Donations can be dropped off at 5021 Technology Drive, Suite E in Cummings Research Park weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

AMIIC Executive Director John Schmitt expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate, noting that AMIIC was founded with the mission of helping to build North Alabama’s workforce of tomorrow.

“Food insecurity presents significant challenges that can act as barriers to participation in the modernized workforce,” he said. “We don’t want to limit our focus at AMIIC to just the technology, so by partnering with an organization like One Generation Away that has been doing some tremendous work in local communities, we saw that as a way we can continue to serve and support Alabama.”