Birmingham, October 9, 2025
News Summary
Huffman Middle School in Birmingham, Alabama has opened the state’s first in-school grocery store to combat food insecurity. The store provides free access to essential food items for enrolled families in a community with a high poverty rate. Operated by Goodr, the initiative not only addresses nutritional needs but also serves as a hands-on learning lab for students. With local government support, the program aims to ensure that hunger does not interfere with students’ academic success.
Birmingham
Huffman Middle School in Birmingham, Alabama, has made history by opening the state’s first in-school grocery store, designed to combat food insecurity among students and their families. The grand opening of the grocery store took place on Wednesday, marking a significant step in supporting the community’s nutritional needs.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring that students and their families do not go without food, addressing an urgent need in an area where the poverty rate is approximately 75%, and 85%-95% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The grocery store provides access to essential food items, including fresh produce, bread, eggs, dairy, pantry staples, and vegan options, all free of charge to enrolled families.
Brenda Craig, a grandparent of two students at Huffman Middle School, expressed gratitude for the grocery store, stating that it will help alleviate the financial stress related to purchasing groceries. This positive sentiment reflects the broader community hope for alleviating food insecurity.
Operated by Goodr, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating food waste and hunger, the grocery store aligns with a growing trend in education that addresses the needs of students beyond academics. Huffman Principal Jeffery Willis highlighted the initiative’s role in student success, emphasizing that hunger must be eliminated from the equation for students to thrive.
The grocery store occupies a 300-square-foot space and is open several times a month, although access is exclusive to enrolled families, making it a targeted resource rather than a public facility. Goodr’s founder noted that the grocery store’s development has been both intentional and purposeful. It is designed to provide families with grocery access at various times to accommodate their needs.
Crucially, the grocery store serves as a hands-on learning lab for students in the Family and Consumer Sciences program. This educational component includes practical experience in inventory management, customer service, and retail operations, providing students with valuable skills that can be utilized beyond their school years.
Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Mark Sullivan mentioned that investments in such programs tend to yield significant returns, with estimates suggesting a $10 to $14 return for every dollar spent, resulting from improved graduation rates, reduced criminal justice costs, and better health outcomes. The pilot program’s success will be monitored over two years by Goodr, with aspirations for expansion to other schools in the future.
Birmingham City Councilor Clinton Woods has allocated $277,500 from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support the grocery store for its first two years, further demonstrating local governmental support for this initiative. The grocery store aims to mitigate external stressors that interfere with learning, ultimately helping students achieve academic success.
School and city officials plan to evaluate the program’s impact on student attendance, performance, and family wellness after the two-year pilot period. Both Councilor Woods and Superintendent Sullivan have expressed a commitment to making the program sustainable and potentially expanding it in the future as they assess its success.
Key Features of Huffman Middle School’s Grocery Store
- First in-school grocery store in Alabama
- Operated by Goodr, a nonprofit combating food insecurity
- Free access for enrolled families
- Located in a 300-square-foot space
- Offers fresh produce, dairy, pantry items, and vegan options
- Functions as a hands-on learning lab for students
- Aims to reduce financial stress for families
Summary of Impact
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Poverty Rate | Approximately 75% in the Huffman community |
| Students on Free/Reduced Lunch | 85%-95% |
| Estimated Annual Savings for Families | $900 – $1,200 |
| Funds Allocated | $277,500 from ARPA for the first two years |
FAQ
What is the purpose of the in-school grocery store at Huffman Middle School?
The store aims to ensure students and their families do not go without food.
Who is eligible to use the grocery store?
Only enrolled families can access the store, which is free of charge.
What types of foods are offered in the grocery store?
The grocery store is stocked with fresh produce, bread, eggs, dairy, pantry staples, and vegan options.
How large is the grocery store?
The grocery store occupies a 300-square-foot space.
Who operates the grocery store?
The grocery store is operated by Goodr, a nonprofit focused on combating food waste and hunger.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Birmingham Times: Huffman Middle School Grocery Store
- ABC 33/40: Birmingham Opens In-School Grocery Store
- Bham Now: First Free School Grocery Store
- CBS 42: Huffman Middle School Opens Free Grocery Store
- AL.com: Classroom Farms Impact on Students
- Wikipedia: Food Insecurity
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Insecurity
- Google Search: Food Insecurity Alabama
Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER
The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
