Roster, programs growing – even a llama carries a card
Story by Elaine Hobson Miller Photos by Meghan Frondorf
Librarian Kaitlyn Siewert
When the Steele Public Library held its grand reopening celebration, it gained an unexpected patron. Her name is Chenille Borg, and she gives the library the rare distinction of having a llama as a member.
If you don’t believe she’s a bonafide, card-carrying member, see her picture accompanying this article. Her owner, Steele Town Councilwoman Nancy Miller-Borg, is standing beside her, card in hand.
Her membership is all in fun, and Miller-Borg, the library board, librarian Kaitlyn Siewert and town officials hope it will help bring attention to the newly-remodeled facility and all it has to offer.
“The library was closed for a month in the spring while we underwent some remodeling, including new floors in the main room and a new interior paint job,” said Siewert. The reopening celebration had to wait a few months, though, for a few finishing touches inside and outside the building, and for some new shelving to be installed. Kaitlyn herself is fairly new, too, having come on board July 18, 2022.
The official name is Jane Battles Brown Memorial Library
“We’re hoping that the new environment will be inviting and will bring in more patrons,” says Miller-Borg, a library patron and promoter. The library also is known as the Jane Battles Brown Memorial Library, after its founder. “That’s its official name, but we’re using Steele Public Library so town folks will get to know it better,” says Karen Bowen, vice chair of the library board. She knew Brown, who was affectionately called, “Janie.”
“She worked tirelessly to start the library, much of it without pay,” Bowen says of the library’s founder. “She has been dead about 48 years, and we’ve had several paid librarians since then. Right before Kaitlyn, it was Lynda Fann.”
Brown opened Steele’s first library in a small storage building next door to a gas station at the corner of US 11 and Steele Station Road, according to Bowen. “Next, it was in the gas station building itself,” she says.
Some folks believe the opening was in the early 1960s, others think it was the late 1960s. Ironically, town records are stored in the very building that housed the first library, and no one has gone through them to validate the precise date. The library moved to its current location after the town purchased the house it’s in at 78 Hillview Street, which is right up the hill from its original building, in April 2003. Library board members, in addition to Bowen, include Hannah Parris, chair; Brandy Dunn, RoseMary Hyatt and Esther Dunn.
When Siewert became librarian, she began the laborious task of culling the library cards to remove those that hadn’t been active in five years or more. With the help of Paula Ballard at Ashville’s McCain Memorial Public Library, the cards went from about 8,000 to 685 adults and 254 children, for a grand total of 939. By the end of the grand reopening day, when 26 more signed up (not counting Chenille), that total had reached 965. As of mid-December, it was at 975 and climbing.
All ages of the community turned out for the opening
Siewert has several new programs in the works, including a free project-supply closet (posters, markers, tape, etc.), a summer reading program for children, and a crochet group. The latter is a “coming together” of crocheters, rather than teaching sessions, but experienced crocheters will be on hand to help beginners. They began in January meeting every Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Then on Feb. 4, the library will host a “Bring Your Child to the Library Day” from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be face painting, sidewalk chalk drawing, refreshments and other activities.
Siewert, whom Karen Bowen calls “Janie 2.0” because of the tremendous work she is putting into her job,was in the medical field for 10 years before heading up the Steele Public Library. “I wanted something outside that field, something I could grow into and be helpful,” she says. “So far, this job has been beyond my expectations. It’s the job I never knew I needed. It doesn’t even feel like a job.”
Editor’s Note:The Steele Public/Jane Battles Brown Memorial Library is open Monday through Thursday. Its winter hours are from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., while the rest of the year its hours are 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Story by Linda Long Photos by Graham Hadley and David Smith, submitted
The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades …
Those lyrics from an old 1980s rock song could well be the theme for St. Clair County’s economic movers and shakers. Fiscal 2023 is beginning to shape up as another banner year – like the one before it.
The 2022 numbers tell the story – 675 new jobs, $400 million invested and $20 million in new wages announced in 20 projects that were announced, broke ground, or opened in 2022. The county saw an economic upswing across the board, from housing to manufacturing, retail sales to tourism, new business to expansion of existing industry.
The St. Clair and Tavern at The St. Clair restaurant in Pell City
According to Don Smith, executive director of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council, there’s reason for optimism. “We’re excited about the prospects that we have in the pipeline for 2023. A lot of the projects announced last year and even the year before will be coming on line this year,” said Smith. “We saw the number of projects at one of its highest levels in 2022 and this is carrying into 2023.”
For Pell City, new retail is coming to town. Smith says, “The groundbreaking we had for the big shopping center, Pell City Square, was actually expected in 2019. It was put on hold for a while because of the pandemic but now it’s moving forward.”
The shopping center, to be completed this year, will include Hobby Lobby, PetSmart, Ross Dress for Less, TJ Maxx, Old Navy, Ulta Beauty, Five Below, Rack Room Shoes and others.
St. Clair’s menu for success also includes white tablecloth, fine dining with all the frills. According to Smith, The St. Clair and Tavern at The St. Clair, should be opening the beginning of 2023. “It’s something different. There’s nothing else like it here at all. It will be a place where you can celebrate special occasions and where you could also entertain guests. It just opens up all sorts of possibilities.”
Because of Pell City Square, “other eateries, shops and hotels are expected things that may be in our local market,” he said.
Smith said the largest revenue generator among all the new projects will be that new retail center. “A big number will be generated off that each year in sales tax.”
The largest potential job creator of all new projects is the Kelly Creek Commerce Park in Moody. “It’s a New Year’s present for the county,” Smith said. “The 172-acre industrial park is expected to create 800 to 1,000 new jobs in the next five to 10 years. “We don’t know who the companies are yet, but we will have the space and infrastructure for them to invest. We’re expecting it to accommodate company headquarters, light manufacturing and warehousing as well.”
Ribbon cutting at National Cement
Also new to Moody will be a Starbucks and an entertainment center housing a trampoline park, an arcade and a bowling alley to be announced.
“Both of those projects fall in line with the Moody’s community input that was given to the city by its citizens on projects that they wanted them to focus during their recent comprehensive planning sessions,” said Smith.
The largest investment in the county, by far, is the $325 million dollars committed by National Cement in Ragland.
“This is the largest private investment in St. Clair County’s history,” said Smith. “It secures that facility’s production for another 50 years.”
He said National Cement is central to Ragland’s history. “Decades ago, the cement plant did a lot of labor-intensive mining,” said Smith. “It employed about a thousand people. Trains would come through and drop people off downtown. Over time, automation and machinery became available, and it was a lot easier to extract materials with a machine rather than shovel and pickaxe.”
As time went by, employee numbers have gone down, but wages have gone up. “What we saw,” he said, “was the need to reinvest and keep up with changes in technology. They had to modernize almost their entire facility, so now Ragland will have those jobs for the next 50 years.”
Other parts of the county are seeing growth as well. Springville has new business coming to town, including the Blue Water Bottling company and the opening of the Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve. Big Canoe Nature Preserve is set to open in the spring or summer of this year. The long-awaited preserve will provide hiking and horseback riding trails as well as canoeing and kayaking.
New trail at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve
According to St. Clair County Tourism Coordinator Blair Goodgame, “We are thrilled with the progress of the BCCNP. This project will be an asset to St. Clair County for generations to come. Not only will the Preserve enhance the lives of locals, but it will serve as an attraction for outdoor enthusiasts across the Southeast – adding to the county’s already vast catalog of outdoor recreational opportunities.”
In the commercial sector, the EDC is eyeing a number of retail prospects, including a new grocer in the Springville, Odenville, Argo and Margaret area. “There’s a number of developers who represent different grocery brands looking at different sites. We’re just trying to find the right spots for the right brand and the size acreage. That’s the key, but it’s been a challenge because building costs have skyrocketed.”
Interest in sites throughout the county is heightening. “We have active prospects on almost every interstate interchange on the I-59 corridor, and we hope to announce some in early 2023,” Smith said. “A community like St. Clair County has so much potential because of its two interstates and close proximity to both Birmingham and Atlanta. That’s a big draw in helping us recruit.”
Prospects for the future continue to look promising. “So long as long as we continue to make St. Clair County a welcoming place for people to invest, which may include residential, commercial or industrial, we will continue to grow at a strong rate,” Smith said.
“It just makes me very happy to see job opportunities and conveniences now in the county. People will soon not have to drive outside our community to get what they need.”
Eissmann announces $3.4 million expansion, creating 79 new jobs
German automotive supplier Eissmann Automotive, N.A., has announced an expansion to its Pell City facility. It includes a $3.4 million investment in new advanced manufacturing equipment for their new production line. They expect to hire an additional 79 employees to support the production necessary for their new orders.
Eissmann Automotive has 13 locations on three continents. The company specializes in car interiors, built-to-print trim components, shifter modules and many other parts for German and Domestic auto makers, such as Mercedes, Audi, Jeep, Tesla, Porsche, Volkswagen and others. Their commitment to high quality and 100% customer satisfaction has been a key to their success.
“Eissmann Automotive Group’s decision to expand their facility in St. Clair County is wonderful for our citizens and community,” said Stan Batemon, St. Clair County Commission chairman. “It is always beneficial to both our community and the company when higher paying jobs with more advanced technology are announced. This is a testament both to the company’s ability to produce a great product and the faith they have in St. Clair County’s workforce.”
“We have been very pleased with our experience working with the City of Pell City, the St. Clair County Commission and Alabama’s Department of Commerce,” said Tracy Breeding, plant director for Eissmann. “They have been wonderful partners as we continue to invest in Pell City to provide quality service and products to our valued customers.”
“Pell City is excited to be home to quality companies like Eissmann Automotive Group,” said Pell City Mayor Bill Pruitt. “They have always been a great partner in the community, and this expansion is great news. We are looking forward to their continued success and the new jobs that will soon be available in our city.”
“St. Clair County and the State of Alabama are very fortunate to have Eissmann Automotive Group expand in our community,” noted Alabama Senator Lance Bell, (R-Pell City). “We applaud them for their success in capturing the business necessary for this expansion, and we are excited that they are growing as an important part of the state’s automotive supply chain.”
St. Clair Economic Development Council Chairman Joe Kelly said, “Eissmann Automotive is a great company who has experienced much growth and success here in St. Clair County. We are excited to learn that they are making this new investment in their Pell City facility. We congratulate Eissmann and wish them continued success.”
Moody breaks ground on Starbucks development
Commuters and coffee drinkers will soon have a new choice. A project to bring Starbucks to one of Moody’s busiest gateways broke ground in December. The site is located at Moody Parkway and Blue Ridge Drive.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Will Roark, Brice Johnston and Chris McCoy with RJ Development thanked all the stakeholders involved in the project, saying the project was coming up on about the one-and-a-half-year mark. “We’re excited to see this project come to fruition and want to thank all those involved in the process. We have enjoyed working with the city and county on this project” McCoy said.
The 2,500 square foot Starbucks is scheduled to open in June 2023 and will create approximately 20 jobs. Customers will have the option of indoor and patio seating, as well as a drive-through. The project brings a multi-million-dollar investment to the City of Moody.
“The City Council and I listen to our neighbors about the different retailers we would all like to see in Moody,” said Mayor Joe Lee.
“Most times this involves our team connecting the right developer, who has a relationship with the retailers we want, with a property owner who is willing to work with them. I am happy we were able make this happen on this project. I know this project will be a tremendous success because this is a brand many have talked about, and Chris McCoy’s team has worked hard to make it happen. It’s all about working as a team.”
“We are happy to once again be able to partner with Mayor Lee and his team on another great project,” said St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon.
“Chris and his development team have been wonderful to work with, and I believe this is just the first of many of their investments in Moody and other parts of our community.”
RJ Development specializes in all aspects of commercial real estate with a primary focus on the development of new retail shopping centers. The company has developed more than 2 million square feet of retail space.
Entertainment Center on horizon for Moody
Moody City Council cleared the way for a 60,000 square foot entertainment center for the city, an answer to a much-requested type of development in input from the community for quite some time.
The council is entering into an agreement with Signature Developments, LLC and Starz events, LLC to construct and operate a new family entertainment center near the I-20 interchange.
The new facility is expected to be approximately 60,000 square feet and will be built on roughly 6.7 acres with interstate visibility. The project site is owned by the city’s commercial development authority (CDA), and the agreement allows the transfer of the property to the developer with certain personal and business guarantees to repay the city the appraised value of the property over 10 years.
The family entertainment center will offer popular activities like a bowling alley of approximately 10-16 bowling lanes, a trampoline park, a soft play recreation facility designed and intended for use as an area for young children, a snack bar/concessions area and other attractions in high demand.
“We are looking forward to opening a state-of-the-art entertainment center customized to the interest of the local citizens, said Shafiq Samji, the project’s developer and operator. “Moody is a fast-growing community with incredible potential, and we believe this project is a perfect fit. We have enjoyed working with the City of Moody, Chamber of Commerce and County Commission on this project.”
The agreement allows the developer 24 months to open the facility. “We would like to open the facility today, but much of the equipment is specialized and will require a number of months to receive and have installed after the building is constructed. We would like to be open before Thanksgiving of 2024,” Samji said.
“Most times private retailers and developers choose where they are going to locate,” Mayor Joe Lee noted. “On this occasion, the city’s CDA owns the property, which gave us a say in what would locate on the site.
“This is a project both the citizens and our council have wanted to see in our community. People expressed a desire to see more family entertainment options during our recent community input session for city’s comprehensive plan, Moody at the Crossroads. We listened and hope this will be the anchor for a larger, master planned entertainment district.”
St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon expressed confidence in the project.
“Mr. Samji has a number of successful business ventures in St. Clair County and Shelby County. He also has experience in the family entertainment sector, and we look forward to supporting the city in another successful project.”
Coosa Pines FCU gives $500,000 in Bonus, Refund to members
Coosa Pines Federal Credit Union announced that its members in November received over $500,000 as a bonus dividend and loan interest refund for 2022. This is the eighth consecutive year that Coosa Pines members have received a bonus and refund, for a total of over $2.7 million.
The Board of Directors made the decision to issue the bonus and refund based on the success of the credit union in 2022. “This year has been one of the most successful for Coosa Pines, and the outlook for next year is positive,” said CEO Don Carden. “While the purpose of a bank is to make money for its shareholders, as members of a financial cooperative, we all share in the success of our credit union.”
The dividend bonus was figured using 7.25% of dividends earned on the member’s share savings account from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 2022. The loan interest refund amount is determined by 7.25% of the loan interest paid for the same period. Certain exclusions applied, but qualifying members saw a deposit in their share savings accounts.
The bonus dividend and interest refund are based on the current year’s results and projections for the following year. Therefore, any future bonus or refund are not guaranteed. “Every member is an owner of Coosa Pines,” said Carden. “Every decision we make is with their financial success in mind. We are elated when we can save them money, reduce financial stress, or share with them a bonus and refund like this.”
Coosa Pines FCU was chartered in 1950 and has a field of membership that includes Talladega, Shelby, St. Clair, Jefferson, Coosa and Clay counties.
Douglas Manufacturing invests $2 million in technology
Douglas Manufacturing closed out 2022 with an announcement about its future. The company, established in 1978 in Pell City, is investing more than $2 million in growth and automation.
Over the next two years, the investment will go toward new manufacturing technologies, such as new CNC equipment and automation, as well as expanding its physical plant. The company estimates that this investment and expansion will create more than 20 new positions in Pell City and increase the plant by roughly 15,000 square feet.
Once complete, the company plans to add a second shift, thus allowing the business to more than double the production capacity of key components so that the company can keep up with an increase in demand for its core component lines: pulleys, lagging, idlers, magnetics, impact beds and take-ups.
The investments will spur economic growth with increased purchases from local and national suppliers.
“The significant new investment Douglas is making to expand its Pell City manufacturing plant illustrates our strong commitment to the conveyor industry, to Alabama and our local community,” said Paul Ross, company president. “We would like to thank St. Clair County, the City of Pell City and the St. Clair County EDC for their support in helping to make this new investment possible.”
For 45 years, Douglas has established its legacy as a leader and innovator in the conveyor industry.
The plant expansion represents the latest chapter in the Made in Alabama success story that has been written over the past four and a half decades. To learn more about the Alabama-made products Douglas produces, visit www.douglasmanufacturing.com.
Carden opens new Classic Home Mortgage office
Mortgage Specialist Teresa Carden of Classic Home Mortgage celebrated the opening of her new office with an open house for the community. The office is located at 2600 Mays Drive, Suite B, in Pell City.
A Pell City native, Carden began her career in finance in 1996 and insurance in 1989. She worked as an in-house bank loan processor, transferring quickly to mortgage loan processor. She rose to Mortgage Department Head and has 20 years of experience in home loans.
She opened the local branch of Classic Home Mortgage in September 2022, building on her experience and passion for helping people achieve home ownership. “It is the largest investment most people will ever make,” she said.
Carden is a Home for Heroes Mortgage Specialist, which gives EMS, educator, healthcare professional and military service personnel a Heroes Thank You Reward.
The same way we inherit our grandfather’s eyes or our mother’s mannerisms, I wish we could recall memories of our loved ones as they once were … back when they existed without us.
I wish I could remember the first time my mother fell in love or how my grandad felt the day he arrived home from war. I wish I could close my eyes and recall my great grandmother’s childhood home and the way her momma looked in the morning light of their farmhouse kitchen window or the rush of emotions my grandfather felt the day my father was born.
I wish that “family inheritance” consisted not of money or things, but instead, we were gifted our ancestors most treasured memories, their most carefully curated moment – wrapped up just waiting to be untied.
This kind of inheritance anchors us. It offers us some insight into who we are and where we came from. We are by no means defined by them. Our lives are still wholly our own. But, in a way, we are all still conceived a bit by these memories from long ago. These memories helped make us. They are a part of us … poured into the very foundation of our existence.
(The above image is a digital copy of a slide taken in 1953 by my grandfather, Maxie L. Black.
Featuring my grandmother, Betty Lou Black, and aunt, Patricia)
– Mackenzie Free –
Wife, mother, photographer & current resident of the unassumingly magical town of Steele, Alabama
When Christmas comes to the Logan Martin Lake home of Sandra Mullinax and Randy Royster, it comes in a mighty big way.
The halls are decked with at least five Christmas trees, and some years there have been as many as 13. Factor in all the other decorations, including snow globes, quilts, whimsical Santa figurines and stuffed animals, and there’s a whole lot of jolly happening there.
“When I was young, my mother did a lot of decorating, and I always thought it was magical,” Sandra said. “It gives me a lot of pleasure.”
For her, the joy begins in mid-November when she first heads for the room devoted entirely to her decorations, a space that’s filled to overflowing. Despite the thrill she gets when she opens each box, she starts slowly and doesn’t get into full Christmas mode for at least a few more weeks.
“Randy doesn’t want me to rush Thanksgiving, so I start in the rooms he doesn’t see much,” she said. “It usually takes three to four weeks to get it all decorated, so we’re a few weeks into December before I call a halt to it. I tell myself, ‘Don’t forget you’ve got to take it all down.’”
Although she’s always been full of holiday cheer, Sandra didn’t necessarily set out to have Christmas in every corner. “A lot of things have been given to me by family and friends who know how much I love Christmas,” she said. “Most people would think it’s out of control, but it’s all special to me.”
Signed Frykman figure
It started fairly innocently. Sandra has always loved Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters, so in the late 1970s or early ‘80s she decided to devote a tree to them. Although she had a few ornaments she’d gotten while visiting her mother, who lived near Disney World at the time, she needed more to make it work.
“There weren’t that many Mickey ornaments available,” she said. “This was before people started spending more on Christmas.” Instead of giving up, Sandra got busy instead. She found some wrapping paper featuring the famous mouse, cut out his face and made lots of Mickey ornaments with inexpensive gold frames. She also cross-stitched ornaments featuring several of the characters, including Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck.
Many years and themed trees later, the Mickey tree remains her favorite. Now her whole den is devoted to the crew, with stuffed animals and figurines adorning the mantle and other areas while a display of snow globes has a place of honor on the coffee table. “It just makes you smile and gives you a lighthearted feeling,” she said of the collection.
That’s the same reaction she had when she saw her first David Frykman figurine. Sandra, a retired account executive for Levi Strauss, traveled a lot for work and was at a hotel gift shop in Arizona when she fell in love with a whimsical resin Santa. “I just loved his sweet face,” she said.
Since then, she’s collected more than 100 Frykman ornaments and figurines, many of which are signed by the artist. In addition to the tree devoted to them, there’s an assortment of mischievous Santas, as well as reindeer, polar bears and other creatures.
“I have two nieces, and every year for Christmas I would get them a Frykman,” she said. Although the girls, who were young children when she started the tradition, weren’t always thrilled with the gift, they love having a collection of their own now. “They’re older now and both have a child, so now they appreciate them,” Sandra said. “It’s fun to see them in their homes and see how proud they are of them.”
Chances are, they love the memories as much as they love the figurines, a sentiment Sandra knows well. Many of her decorations are touching reminders of trips they’ve taken or the friends and family members who have added to her collection, including Randy’s mother, Betty.
“She loved Christmas, as well, and she was generous to a fault,” Sandra said. “Anytime she’d go somewhere she’d buy something for one of my themed trees.”
Silver and crystal table pieces
There’s the white and silver tree in the dining room that features 25 or 30 Waterford crystal ornaments, a perfect complement to the table’s centerpiece of crystal Christmas trees and Lenox silver bells. A tree on the screened porch may be a salute to America one year and decorated with birds and nests the next. She’s also had a nutcracker tree and a Dalmatian-themed tree in honor of a dog they once had.
Perhaps the most special tree, though, is a “half tree,” which is flat on one side, hangs on the wall of the guest bath and is adorned with handmade felt ornaments that she and her mother, Mignon, crafted. “I made them many years ago when I was living in an apartment in New Orleans,” Sandra said. “I talked my mother into making some, and she signed the backs of them. Those ornaments are old and precious.”
Although Randy doesn’t want Thanksgiving to get lost in the shuffle, he loves the Christmas decorations – and the memories they hold – as much as Sandra does. He bought a farm in Clairmont Springs near Ashland not long after retiring and selling his trucking company, and that’s where they head the day after Thanksgiving.
“We always go there and cut two or three fresh trees,” Sandra said. “The more trees that are up, the more Randy enjoys it.” Not surprisingly, the farmhouse is decorated, as well. “The whole house is done in snowmen there.”
Although it takes weeks to set up her displays and just as long to take them down, Sandra and Randy love celebrating big. “There’s just something about Christmas,” she said. “It makes you feel younger and puts a smile on your face. Everyone has a nicer spirit, I think, this time of year.”
That’s why they will keep on decorating, despite the time and energy it takes. “We love sharing the holiday with family and friends, and they seem to enjoy the atmosphere and like looking at everything,” she said. “When we have younger children here, there’s just awe. So yes, it’s worth it.”
It’s a tradition believed to be as old as Grimm’s popular fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel, and it’s making its holiday debut at Pell City Library this month.
The Library Guild is presenting a children’s workshop Dec. 8 and Dec. 10. The object of the lesson and ultimate sweet tooth? Their very own gingerbread house.
Children will be able to decorate pre-assembled gingerbread houses for Christmas on Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. and Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Register by calling the Pell City Library at 205-884-1015.
Christmas in Park brings community together
Returning to Lakeside Park Dec. 17, Christmas in the Park brings along with it an entire community.
From Rotary Club to St. Clair Realtors to Community Garden to high school sports teams to local book clubs and Sunday School classes to the St. Clair County Airport, it is a true coming together of community in service to community. They come from all corners, backgrounds and faiths to make sure that St. Clair County families do not go hungry at Christmas.
Two hundred and fifty boxes from the Christian Love Pantry are filled with holiday fare as well as essentials – flour, cornmeal, crackers, jam, preserves, fruits, canned vegetables, stuffing mix, dry pasta, sauces, soups, fresh produce and turkeys.
It’s 95 pounds worth of good food and good wishes.
In recent years, St. Clair County Airport has stepped in to provide toys for the children, and Debbie Parmenter and Sue Turton had high praise for Airport Manager Wendy Watson, who coordinates securing nearly 300 high quality toys for boys and girls of all ages and helping distribute them the day of the giveaway.
Bags of candy are also created by Seventh Day Adventist Church to be given out to the children.
It represents an opportunity, Turton and Parmenter said, to share the gift of food to those in need during the holidays and bring the community together to make it happen.
In November, the Love Pantry did likewise for Thanksgiving, packing and giving out 150 boxes of food to qualifying St. Clair County households. And at Easter, those in need are served as well.
Throughout the year, Love Pantry ensures St. Clair County residents who qualify are able to get help through their emergencies up to twice annually. “We provide enough food to them through crises,” Turton said. “It is not a grocery store.”
Instead, she noted, it’s an act of kindness and a helping hand when they are needed most.
