Staff at the Judicial Correction Services in Jemison held a canned food drive at their office during November and December as a way to give back to the community for the holiday season.

“Sometimes we are perceived as taking money from people and we wanted to be able to show that we wanted to give back,” Probation Officer at JCS Tonia Hamby said.

Hamby said defendants and staff at JCS were asked to donate canned food items to be donated to the Chilton County Emergency Assistance Center in Clanton.

“I looked around to find a place we could bring the canned goods and found this food bank,” Hamby said. “We were happy to be able to do something that could help others.”

Wallace Cleckler who works at the food bank located at the Chilton County Emergency Assistance Center said the canned goods donated to the food bank will provide for people in need as well as anyone who has been involved in a disaster.

“The month of November is usually our canned food drive where folks from different places throughout the county bring in items they have collected to donate,” Cleckler said. “Donations have been really good this year.”

Currently, the food bank prepares cardboard boxes for individuals in need and hands them out to anyone needing assistance.

“Starting in January, it will be a bit different because we will start letting people come through and pick out their own items,” Cleckler said.

Hamby donated roughly 240 cans to the food bank on Friday morning with the cans weighing in at 350 pounds.

“It feels good to be able to do something for those in need,” Hamby said.

For more information about the food bank at the Chilton County Emergency Assistance Center, contact (205) 755-9467.

The food bank is located at 502 Enterprise Road in Clanton.