The Cullman Caring for Kids Food Bank has been experiencing flooding after the heavy rains that have continued over the past week, but the food bank will remain open for Cullman County residents who are in need of assistance.

“We’re going to remain open as long as it doesn’t get any worse than it is now,” Executive Director Javon Daniel said.

While the flooding has caused a lot of damage in the building’s basement, none of the bank’s food has been affected, Daniel said.

“Right now there’s no problem with the food,” he said. “The food is fine.”

Many other items in the basement will have to be thrown away after getting water damage from the flood, including diapers and sheet sets that were recently donated, Daniel said.

Along with the items that are definite losses, all of the shelving units in the basement will have to be replaced due to the damage from the water, he said.

“All of the shelving down there is going to have to go,” he said.

There are also other items in the basement such as files, TVs and computers, and all of those will have to be checked for any water damage or mold and mildew that could be growing in them, said Assistant Director Nancy Bryant.

“I don’t know how that’s going to affect the electronics,” she said.

Support has been coming from the Cullman County Commission, which has provided a dumpster to keep Caring for Kids employees from having to take all of the ruined items to the landfill, and the Cullman County Maintenance Department’s Chris Sears has been working at the office every day since the flooding began, Bryant said.

“He’s been very diligent,” she said. “He’s really trying to make it right.”

Daniel said the flooding in the basement and cleanup efforts mean there are a lot of people coming and going from the building and there is not as much storage room, so donations of food or other items are not needed right now, but any financial help is greatly appreciated to help replace or clean all of the things that were damaged.

“If people wanted to make a monetary donation, that would be great,” he said. “Everything down there needs to be cleaned or thrown away.”

Monetary donations to the Cullman Caring for Kids Food Bank can be made online at cullmancaringforkids.com or by mailing a check to P.O. Box 698, Cullman, AL 35056.

Monetary donations to the Cullman Caring for Kids Food Bank can be made online at cullmancaringforkids.com or by mailing a check to P.O. Box 698, Cullman, AL 35056.