Avondale Samaritan Place is a joint vision of Avondale and Canterbury United Methodist Churches for outreach and mission in the Avondale Community. Our two churches formed Avondale Samaritan Place in 2013 to be a “Community Hub for Christian Service.” Housed in the Avondale UMC gymnasium building, ASP brings together people from Avondale, Canterbury, and the surrounding community to facilitate the sort of connections between neighbors (businesses included!) that improve everyone's lives.
The work of ASP focuses particularly on helping people who are on the margins. ASP offers ... food assistance to food-insecure individuals and families in the area ... social workers who help with healthcare support and utility assistance ... home repair and yard maintenance for those who are unable to do the work themselves ... after school activities ... care and support for the homeless in our neighborhood ... job creation for those whom we serve. As the community continues to grow, be revitalized, and transform, ASP’s work is essential in helping everyone in Avondale to experience the love of God in Christ and to understand that all are welcome at God’s table.
For more information ... email mike@avonumc.net ... or call 205.868.3345.
Leigh Ann Sisson
Director of Programming for ASP
Jeff Bowman
Social Worker
Javonia Darling
Social Worker
Team Members
Leigh Ann Sisson
Director of Programming for ASPLeighAnn@avonumc.net
Leigh Ann Sisson has lived the majority of her life in Birmingham, with only short stints living away in Ohio and Tuscaloosa. She was raised in and remains an active member at Canterbury United Methodist Church. Her attachment to Canterbury is strong … she was baptized there, confirmed there, “lived there” during youth group years, was married there, her four children were baptized there, and her husband asked her on their first date the day his father became the senior minister there! (and yes, Tommy and Leigh Ann have even purchased columbarium slots there😊). Leigh Ann graduated from Birmingham-Southern College twice—with an undergraduate degree in International Business as well as a master’s degree in Public and Private Management. She worked at SouthTrust Bank, Birmingham-Southern College, and then moved into pharmaceutical sales and marketing for 10 years. During the pharmaceutical years she and Tommy welcomed the gifts of Ann and Miller (twins), John, and Hamp. All four were born in four years, so Leigh Ann spent a few years at home loving and raising them. She finds so much joy in her children—they are now 26, 24 and 21, and she has added a daughter-in-law as well. More blessing! As her children became more self-sufficient Leigh Ann went back to part-time work, pursuing her passion for outreach with Carpenters Hands Ministry. The Lord really revealed to Leigh Ann during this time of raising children and working in outreach that she has a love and longing to feed people—from family and friends to those for whom food insecurity is a daily challenge.
Leigh Ann was fortunate to be connected through Canterbury to Avondale Samaritan Place (ASP), and she began volunteering with ASP’s “brown bag project” several years ago. Shortly thereafter, she and a key church leader with Avondale UMC followed their collective dream to move that ministry to a food cooperative ministry, which provides a sense of community, dignity, and ownership for the member families. Subsequently, she worked with other community partners such as Alethia House, UAB, and Avondale Elementary School to develop programming at ASP that would further its mission to continue to build deep relationships with people in Avondale and to further ASP’s vision to become a true community hub for Christian service. Leigh Ann is thrilled to be on staff as the Director of Programming. She will work diligently to ensure that ASP is a safe place with intentional programs that serve the needs of our Avondale neighbors!
Team Members
Jeff Bowman
Social WorkerTeam Members
Javonia Darling
Social Worker
Panera Pick-up
ASP benefits from a partnership with Panera Bread in that we are able to pick up all the leftover bread and pastries from Panera in Vestavia Hills each Saturday night. We then give the bread and pastries to our coop families on Monday mornings when they come to receive their monthly groceries.
We need volunteers to help with pick up. The commitment would be to pick up the bread at closing time on Saturday night at 9pm. Then you can bring all the bread and pastries to the church on Sunday morning to be left in the ASP kitchen. Bonus … your car smells like fresh bread for a while after you do the pick-up & delivery.
Food Cooperatives
We provide groceries and hospitality for food-insecure individuals in the Avondale community. The individuals and families that we serve take home food that ASP purchases for cents on the dollar from the Food Bank. They take home fresh meat, vegetables, and canned and dry goods. In 2022, it cost just $175 to feed a family for an entire year.
Crisis Clinic
Our social workers provide support and assistance to people in crisis in our community. Some are low-income individuals/families, and some have no home. They help folks develop a long-term plan and walk with them on the journey to getting back on their feet.
Homeless Lunches
We offer a free meal and conversation to our friends in the community who struggle to maintain safe, affordable housing. In addition, our social workers seek to help these folks develop a plan for improving their circumstances. They’ve helped several find housing and secure jobs.
Senior Services
We help seniors access services and sustain quality of life thanks to a grant from Beeson Senior Services. The program works with clients to help identify needs -financial, social, medical, transportation, etc. – and to link them with community resources to help resolve these needs.
Summer Literacy
Coming this summer (2023) we will host our first Summer Literacy Camp for local elementary students. Through fun learning activities, certified teachers will help students improve their reading comprehension with the goals of preventing learning loss that can happen in the summer and helping students gain confidence in their abilities as they become stronger readers.
After School Program
MOVE IT engages students physically through movement and play. This program is led by the teachers and students of the UAB Kinesiology Department and is open and free to all Avondale Elementary School students.
Christmas Village
Each December, the halls of the ASP gym are decked to become a Christmas Village where low-income parents can come shop for Christmas gifts for their children. We offer brand new toys at greatly reduced prices thanks to the generosity of our church family and larger community. The Christmas Village gives parents the opportunity to pick out the gifts for their children. It also offers them pride and dignity as they’re able to pay a little bit for the gifts they give their children. In addition, the Christmas Village creates job opportunities as it is staffed by folks from our community.
Interested in Learning More or Getting Involved?
Reach out to our Director of Programming, Leigh Ann Sisson (LeighAnn@avonumc.net) or our ASP Director, Mike Higginbotham (Mike@avonumc.net).