Latest news with #NorthAlabamaBoys
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Local volunteers to feed flood survivors in Texas
Aug. 9—A Priceville-based volunteer organization, North Alabama Boys, will travel to Texas on Sept. 7 to feed flooding victims and volunteers. Rand Hutchison, North Alabama Boys' leader, said the group wants to provide three meals a day through Sept. 14 while there. "Our first thought has always been the food, to cook for people and cook for them well," Hutchison said. "We've found it's our little niche to show up a little later than everybody else. There's obviously a big need when a disaster first happens. There are other groups that go in and they meet that need, which is fantastic, but as always, the support starts to kind of dwindle a bit as time goes on." The group will travel to central Texas, where catastrophic flooding killed at least 130 people and damaged the houses and property of countless others over the Fourth of July weekend. Although the volunteers have contacts in Kerr County, where some of the most severe flooding occurred, they're open to traveling elsewhere as they're needed. Similar to its efforts in North Carolina last year, the organization wants to provide "good Alabama barbecue and good Alabama cooking" to the people in need, Hutchison said. Meals will include breakfast burritos and ribeye sandwiches or hamburgers. A mix of old and new faces totaling 12 volunteers will travel to Texas. At this time, contacts in Texas tell the group they'll know other specific needs closer to September. "We're going to go with a goal of being very adaptable," Hutchison said. "If we get there and we see a need, we're going to meet the need." The nonprofit is still reaching out to local organizations and businesses to gather supplies. Burningtree Country Club will provide some of the food items, according to Hutchison. North Alabama Boys has a fundraising goal of $15,000 to cover the cost of the relief effort. Hutchison said the group has raised around $10,000 so far. With these funds, volunteers should be able to feed between 300 and 400 people each day. Anybody wanting to get involved or make a donation can either visit the organization's Facebook page, NA Boys, or its website, Another local volunteer group, Project Unify, has also helped in Texas since the flooding. "We are currently still in and out of the work in Texas," its website reads. "The flooding that devastated communities has left behind lots of work. It is our goal to represent the body of Christ in service, as well as in teaching. ... We request your prayers, involvement, and if possible your support as we continue forward with these efforts. To God be the glory!" The nonprofit's website, includes a PayPal QR code and donation link. — or 256-340-2437
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Priceville volunteers recognized for hurricane relief efforts
Apr. 30—Priceville residents in two groups of volunteers known collectively as the North Alabama Boys who have made numerous trips to North Carolina to assist in hurricane relief — including some who are there now — received the inaugural Spirit of Priceville Award on Saturday. During Priceville's Celebrate the City event, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the town's founding, Mayor Sam Heflin surprised the 19 Priceville residents with the award. "To know that the community has recognized us and cares about us like that, that meant a lot," said Johnny Maxwell, a leader for one of the volunteer groups. The North Alabama Boys were also honored earlier in the month with an Alabama House resolution sponsored by Rep. Parker Moore, R-Hartselle. Following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in September 2024, Maxwell and Rand Hutchison knew they wanted to help the victims. The two began separately organizing efforts to provide workers and residents in North Carolina with supplies, meals and donations of any kind. The two groups have collectively raised about $350,000 in money and goods for the hurricane victims and workers. Hutchison, along with Decatur firefighter Adron Davis, were brainstorming ideas for how to help when Davis said, "What if we just go on our own and cook for people?" Hutchison said they then took the idea a step further: "What if we did something crazy, like ribeyes?" The two originally aimed to provide 600 meals. They figured they would need between $3,000 and $3,500 dollars. After a Facebook post gained unexpected attention, they were able to raise $25,000. They bought supplies from Texas Roadhouse, which sold the food at cost. For three days, they handed out as many meals as they could — breakfast, lunch and dinner. "You could tell that the people of North Carolina were just tired," Hutchison said. "They had been living this day after day, for weeks. ... To see that face turn to a smile just because you handed them a really awesome ribeye sandwich — every day we would go to bed tired, yet so fulfilled." They were able to hand out about 3,500 meals and had money to spare. A second trip was planned. It fell in early December, and they took toys. Maxwell's crew focused more on bringing different supplies. As the weather grew colder, they donated hundreds of heaters and propane tanks. They received donations from all around the country. Maxwell described opening the mailbox and finding thousands of dollars in donations. "It was organic. We felt a call from the Lord to go and help our fellow man," Maxwell said. "We went up to see what we could do. We were thinking small. God was thinking a lot larger." With the funds, the group has been able to supply the Double Island Fire Department in North Carolina with an ultra-terrain vehicle side-by-side. They also provided Rebuilding Hollers, a home reconstruction-focused foundation, with a Lull extended lift. They've also partnered with Blossman Gas to cover the costs of refilling propane tanks. Citizens can take in a voucher for three 20-pound tanks, and Hutchison's party pays the cost weekly. They have made 13 different trips, lasting about three days each. A group left Monday with 300 sheets of plywood for construction efforts. Maxwell said he has encouraged Hutchison in their joint volunteering efforts. He said his group is made up of mostly older residents, but Hutchison's volunteers are younger. "I said, 'Rand, I'm 65. You're 36. You've got 30 to 40 years you can provide service. You take this mantle, and you wear it well,'" Maxwell said. "'We'll support you as long as we can. It's befitting that you guys head all of this up, and we will support you.'" Hutchison has filed paperwork to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Like the work in North Carolina, Hutchison said, "Our main focus is going to be feeding people in disaster recovery zones." He said the organization also wants to partner with local homeless missions to provide meals. Maxwell said when Heflin first asked him and his volunteers to come to the Celebrate the City event, he expected to wave their hands as a brief recognition. He described being "blown away" and "humbled beyond belief" upon receiving the award. He emphasized that none of the volunteers had any expectation of receiving recognition for their service. "The first words out of Rand Hutchison's mouth were, 'Johnny, I think I speak for me and you both, and the groups that we lead,' he said, 'we never did this for anybody to pat us on the back,'" Maxwell said. Maxwell, pastor of Nature's Trail Baptist Church, sees the donations and volunteering as part of the church's ministry. "Every one of them looked at it as a mission trip for God," Heflin said. "They didn't do it bring glory on them. They did it all to bring glory to God." The two volunteer leaders also highlighted the local support they have received. For example, an area veterinarian donated pallets of dog food, cat food and cat litter, which Hutchison's crew transported. Similarly, the propane vouchers that Maxwell's group handed out were printed by Decatur Printing Solutions. "They'll tell you it came from the community. As a mayor it makes you proud," Heflin said. Contact me at or 256-340-2437.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local groups recognized for volunteer efforts
Apr. 28—PRICEVILLE — Several Priceville residents received the inaugural Spirit of Priceville Award for their ongoing volunteer efforts to help North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene. During Priceville's Celebrate the City event, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of being founded, Mayor Sam Heflin surprised 19 citizens with the award. "To know that the community has recognized us and cares about us like that, that meant a lot," said Johnny Maxwell, a leader for one of the volunteer groups. Known collectively as the North Alabama Boys, the volunteers were also honored earlier in the month with an Alabama House Resolution sponsored by Representative Parker Moore. Following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in September 2024, Maxwell and Rand Hutchison knew they wanted to help victims. The two began separately organizing efforts to provide workers and residents with supplies, meals and donations of any kind. They became known collectively as the North Alabama Boys. The two groups have collectively raised about $350,000 in money and goods for the hurricane victims and workers. Hutchison, along with Decatur firefighter Adron Davis, were brainstorming ideas for how to help when Davis said, "What if we just go on our own and cook for people?" Hutchison said they then took the idea a step further: "What if we did something crazy, like ribeyes?" The two originally aimed to provide 600 meals. They figured they would need between 3,000 — 3,500 dollars. After a Facebook post gained unexpected attention, they were able to raise $25,000. They bought supplies from Texas Roadhouse, which sold the food at cost. For three days, they handed out as many meals as they could — breakfast, lunch and dinner. "You could tell that the people of North Carolina were just tired," Hutchison said. "They had been living this day after day, for weeks. ... To see that face turn to a smile just because you handed them a really awesome ribeye sandwich, every day we would go to bed tired, yet so fulfilled." They were able to hand out about 3,500 meals and had money to spare. A second trip was planned. It fell in early December, and they brought toys. Maxwell's crew focused more on bringing different supplies. As the weather grew colder, they donated hundreds of heaters and propane tanks. They received donations from all around the country. Maxwell described opening the mailbox and finding thousands of dollars in donations. "It was organic. We felt a call from the Lord to go and help our fellow man," Maxwell said. "We went up to see what we could do. We were thinking small. God was thinking a lot larger." With the funds, the group has been able to supply the Double Island Fire Department with a UTV side-by-side. They also provided Rebuilding Hollers, a home reconstruction focused foundation, with an extended lift lull. They've also partnered with Blossman Gas to cover the costs of refilling propane tanks. Citizens can take in a voucher for three 20-pound tanks, and Hutchison's party pays the cost weekly. They have made 13 different trips, lasting about three days each. A group left Monday with 300 sheets of plywood for construction efforts. Maxwell said he has encouraged Hutchison in their joint volunteering efforts. He shared that his group is made up of mostly older citizens, but Hutchison's volunteers are younger. "I said, 'Rand, I'm 65. You're 36. You've got 30 — 40 years you can provide service. You take this mantle, and you wear it well,'" Maxwell said. "'We'll support you as long as we can. It's befitting that you guys head all of this up, and we will support you.'" Hutchison has filed paperwork to become an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Like the work in North Carolina, Hutchison said, "Our main focus is going to be feeding people in disaster recovery zones." He said the organization also wants to partner with local homeless missions to provide meals. Maxwell shared that when Heflin asked him to come to the Celebrate the City event, he expected to wave their hands as a brief recognition. He described being "blown away" and "humbled beyond belief" upon receiving the award. He emphasized that none of the volunteers had any expectation of receiving recognition for their service. "The first words out of Rand Hutchison's mouth were, 'Johnny, I think I speak for me and you both, and the groups that we lead' he said, 'we never did this for anybody to pat us on the back,'" Maxwell said. Maxwell, pastor of Nature's Trail Baptist Church, sees the donations and volunteering as part of the church's ministry. "Every one of them looked at it as a mission trip for God," said Heflin. "They didn't do it bring glory on them. They did it all to bring glory to God." The two volunteer leaders also highlighted the local support they have received. For example, an area veterinarian donated pallets of dog food, cat food and cat litter, which Hutchison's crew transported. Similarly, the propane vouchers that Maxwell's group handed out were printed by Decatur Printing Solutions. "They'll tell you it came from the community. As a mayor it makes you proud," Heflin said. Contact me at or 256-340-2437.
