4K+ children facing hunger get weekly meals thanks to this Huntsville business

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At the North Alabama Food Bank, Gabby Brown packages food for distribution, then switches gears to run the front desk—and she did it all on a lunch break!

Thanks to her job at Alabama Credit Union, she has opportunities to serve at organizations across Huntsville, and play a special role in planning an event for Secret Meals for Hungry Children—a program that served 4,300+ children last year.

Keep reading for more on the program and how you can help support Huntsville-area kids facing hunger.

Meet Gabby and ACU volunteer opps

We watched Gabby in action as she volunteered at the North Alabama Food Bank. (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

Gabby Brown has served Alabama Credit Union’s Highway 72 branch as a Member Experience Representative since January 2025.

Even though she’s been part of the team for less than a year, she’s cemented her work ethic across the board.

“I’ve always been a people person, and I love helping other people, so I love to see the impact that this volunteer program can have on somebody else’s life.”

Gabby Brown, Member Experience Representative, Alabama Credit Union

One cool thing I learned from our conversation: Alabama Credit Union gives its employees 15 hours each year to volunteer wherever they want across Alabama. Gabby has taken full advantage of it, serving 14 hours so far—only one more to go.

She’s done everything from organizing backpacks at Harvest Elementary School and monitoring car washes, and last week, we shadowed Gabby as she worked the front desk at the North Alabama Food Bank.

What is Secret Meals for Hungry Children?

Alabama Credit Union established Secret Meals for Hungry Children in 2008 to decrease the number of children facing hunger over the weekend.

Many children rely heavily on free and reduced meals while at school, meaning they may be hungry over weekends until returning on Mondays. Secret Meals can help fill this gap.

• What it does: Works to end childhood food insecurity in Alabama + Northwest Florida by providing food packs to students every weekend during the school year
• How it works:
  • Counselors, teachers + cafeteria staff look for signs: eating a lot early in the week, hoarding food before the weekend or asking for more food during the day
  • Children in need are identified each week + the numbers are reported to Secret Meals
  • Students receiving food are kept anonymous from the organization + meals are discreetly put into backpacks on Friday afternoons
• Who it helps: In 2024, Secret Meals for Hungry Children saw:
  • 4,300+ children receive meals
  • 87 schools served
  • $87,746 raised

How you can help Huntsville-area kids facing hunger

The money raised for Secret Meals each year comes from community donations and events like Strike Out Hunger—which Gabby and her team at Alabama Credit Union are working hard to plan right now.

Here are ways you can give back to the Secret Meals mission:

• Volunteering: pack or deliver meals like Gabby, or work fundraising events
• Donating: $140 can feed a child for a full school year!
• Sharing + staying connected

“You never know what everyone is going through, especially those who don’t have the same opportunities as I do. I feel like it’s my responsibility to pay it forward to them and help them with whatever they need.”

Gabby Brown, Member Experience Representative, Alabama Credit Union

Learn more about Secret Meals for Hungry Children and other local services Alabama Credit Union supports.

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