Shopping with Blazer Kitchen

All UAB Employees and Students must present a UAB ONE Card or VIVA Health Employee Badge.

Students can also access the Food & Supply Pantry provided by UAB Student Outreach in the Hill Student Center, Suite 303, 1400 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294 on Monday-Friday from 8:00am-5:00 pm.

Planning to visit the pantry? Consider downloading and completing forms prior to your visit:

• USDA Eligibility Form (English)
• USDA Eligibility Form (Spanish)

These forms are for food available through USDA; other food will be available for Employees and/or Students who are food insecure but do not meet USDA requirements

The frequency of participation in the Blazer Kitchen is identified on a monthly basis based on need and food availability. Frequency guidelines can change at the discretion of the staff. Blazer Kitchen will be closed on all UAB observed holidays.

In collaboration with Office of Service Learning and Undergraduate Research, The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, UAB Office of the Vice President for Financial Affairs & Administration, UAB Medicine, and UAB Student Outreach.

Volunteering with Blazer Kitchen

Please use Signup.com button for volunteer opportunities.
Have a class or students that want to participate in Service Learning at Blazer Kitchen? Email servicelearn@uab.edu. 

Please complete and bring the following with you to your first volunteer shift. We ask that all volunteers be 18 years of age or older. 
Volunteer Release Form
Volunteer Confidentiality Agreement

Alpha Gamma Delta volunteers in Blazer Kitchen.

Making a Donation to Blazer Kitchen

In addition to Financial donations, which we put to great use with the purchasing power of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, we are in need of the following items:

• protein bars
• canned meat
• shelf-stable milk
• shelf-stable, individual-serving, microwavable meals

Since toiletries and household items cannot be purchased with SNAP (formerly food stamps), and are necessary, please consider donating:

• soap
• shampoo
• deodorant
• toothpaste
• toothbrushes
• dental floss
• toilet paper
• paper towels
• napkins
• feminine hygiene products
• laundry detergent
• dishwashing soap
• household cleaners

Donations can be made between 10 am- 12 pm every other Wednesday or by appointment.
Please email us prior to delivering donations at blazerkitchen@uab.edu.

If you are shopping online and would like to ship items directly to Blazer Kitchen, please use the following address:

Blazer Kitchen
AB B-84
1720 2nd Ave S
Birmingham, AL
35294-0100

Blazer Kitchen Stats

Statistics for Blazer Kitchen participation as of February 12th, 2018.

Patient Outreach

Blazer Kitchen currently funds the food pantry in UAB Women and Infants Center.

In 2013, the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama (CFBCA) launched a hospital-based NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) food pantry serving mothers and family members with children enduring long hospital stays in the NICU. Partnering with two hospitals, UAB Hospital and Coosa Valley in Talladega County. These pantries are stocked with specific items—like tuna salad, peanut butter, high-protein, easy-to-prepare meals, pretzels, nuts and protein bars —to benefit breastfeeding mothers.

Providing an on-site pantry provides an innovative platform to increase food access for those in need and it also enables mothers to spend more time with their infants during a critical time of mother-child bonding. The idea to begin a hospital pantry was created after NICU nurses noticed some mothers never left the ward to eat (or couldn’t afford the hospital meals) and many were afraid to leave their children or ask for help.  Patients are referred to the pantry by medical professionals and onsite social workers who recognize symptoms of food insecurity.

In January 2017, the Blazer Kitchen began funding and managing the program. As of July 2017, the Blazer Kitchen has provided 2060 meals to the RNICU pantry. The program will be expanded in late 2017 and 2018 to support patients in select clinics and families of long term hospital patients in collaboration with UAB Medicine.

Tara Ransom
AmeriCorp/VISTA - Blazer Kitchen
Email: blazerkitchen@uab.edu
Phone: 205-834-2895

Physical Address:	Mailing Address:
Medical Towers, Suite 100 1717 11th Ave S. Birmingham, AL 35233	Medical Towers, Suite 100 1717 11th Ave S. Birmingham, AL 35205