On January 12, communities across Alabama and Georgia were impacted by a tornado outbreak that killed at least 10 people. Selma, a city in central Alabama of around 17,500 residents—over a third of who live in poverty—took a direct hit from one of the tornadoes. The extreme weather leveled homes and destroyed entire city blocks as it tore through the community.
WCK’s Relief Team was on site in Selma supporting the community as clean up efforts began. Working with a food truck partner and alongside local churches, we reached the most vulnerable populations in the city, providing comforting meals like pulled pork sandwiches and collard greens with bacon.
The tornado hit just days before Martin Luther King Jr. Day—the federal holiday that commemorates the life and work of the civil rights leader who had deep roots in Selma. In 1965, Dr. King led the second of three Selma to Montgomery protest marches to ensure that African Americans could exercise their constitutional right to vote. The first of these marches took place on March 7, 1965 and ended on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma when marchers were violently attacked.
nourishing meals served
recipient locations
Chefs For Alabama
Ebenezer Baptist Church
Shortly after the tornado tore through Selma, members of Ebenezer Baptist Church jumped into action to support their community. The church’s pastor—James Perkins Jr.—is Selma’s current mayor. Mr. Perkins had previously served in the role from 2000 to 2008 and was the first Black mayor elected in the city. Cynthia Perkins, the mayor’s wife, led the church’s congregation as they helped our Relief Team distribute hundreds of hot meals and sandwiches to families without power.