PIKE ROAD, AL – Mayor Gordon Stone and the Pike Road Town Council recognized the churches, schools, service organizations and volunteers behind the 2026 Summer Feeding Program during the council’s regular meeting Wednesday, Oct. 28. The council formally read and presented a proclamation honoring their service to representatives of each participating group.
Over six weeks this summer, volunteers organized service days, collected monetary donations and distributed more than 6,000 units of food to approximately 1,500 families throughout the community, according to the proclamation. The volunteer-driven program provides healthy food options for children and seniors during the summer months, when reliable access to food can become challenging for families.
The Summer Feeding Program is led by the Pike Road Area Your Emergency Response (P.R.A.Y.E.R.) Team, a coalition of local faith leaders and service organizations working through the Town’s E.N.H.A.N.C.E. Initiative. The team helps address the community’s physical and spiritual needs during tragedy or urgent need.
Organizations recognized included Brewer Memorial Baptist Church, Century Church, Woodland Methodist Church, Reformation Presbyterian Church, Pike Road United Methodist Church, Antioch Baptist Church, Pike Road Schools, Saint James Church and Pike Road Lions Club. Volunteers from across the community also contributed their time to the program.
The proclamation also recognized Publix of Pike Road and Heart of Alabama Food Bank for sourcing fresh, healthy food so participating families could receive food for breakfast and lunch each week at no personal cost.
Beyond the Summer Feeding Program, the P.R.A.Y.E.R. Team has supported National Day of Prayer events, Prayer Walks and Baccalaureate Ceremonies for Pike Road Schools. The team also created a resource directory to help the community navigate challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proclamation described the team and the Summer Feeding Program as “treasured examples of the hospitality, strong work ethic, and dedication to faith” that define Pike Road’s “Welcome Home” spirit. The mayor and council expressed their gratitude to everyone involved and encouraged residents to recognize the team’s continued positive impact throughout the community.