Every fall in Birmingham, as the air cools and the holidays approach, something remarkable begins at Glenwood’s Sicard Hollow location. Cases are stacked high. Phones start ringing. Regular customers call, recognizing the voices of staff who have been managing the lines for years. Volunteers drop in. And somewhere in the mix, a young member of the Glenwood community beams with pride as he helps load pecan cases onto towering racks, insisting, “No, no, I can do it.”
This is pecan season at Glenwood, a tradition woven into Alabama’s holiday rhythm for nearly half a century. Behind every bag of glossy halves or candied clusters is a story far richer than the pecans themselves. It is a story of community, purpose, and individuals with autism and behavioral health needs growing into greater independence.
Glenwood’s pecan sale began in the late 1970s, thanks to a group of philanthropic women who “adopted” Glenwood as their cause after the Allan Cott School was created. They tried several fundraisers, but one idea stuck and became a legacy: pecans.
“It was just such a great idea,” said Shanda Daniel, special projects manager at Glenwood. “And it just grew into what it is now.”
In the early years, everything was packed by hand. Pecans arrived in 30-pound boxes and were poured into a custom-built conveyor known as the Mighty Mitchell machine. Up to 90 pounds of pecans at a time rattled down the track to be weighed and tubbed, producing 2,000 to 3,000 tubs each holiday season.
Today, the operation looks different, but the heartbeat is the same. Just like those early days, the individuals Glenwood serves are right in the middle of the action.
Recalling a moment from this year’s pecan season, Shanda said, “One of the guys was helping me load cases. I asked him if he wanted me to take over and he said, ‘No, no, no, I can do it.’ When he finished, he was just smiling. He was so proud of himself.”
Individuals help pack grocery store orders, stock shelves, and perhaps their favorite part, ride along on deliveries. “They love being out in the community,” she added. These moments build confidence, routine, and independence in ways that cannot be taught in a classroom.
Over nearly five decades, the fundraiser has built a community of its own, sometimes in the most unexpected ways. Longtime customers return year after year, often sharing stories, memories, or greetings that pick up right where they left off. “You recognize their voice; they recognize yours,” Shanda said. “Even if you’ve never seen them, you have a connection.” Those small moments of familiarity are part of what makes pecan season so special. “I love doing this,” she said. “I love seeing the difference it makes.”
The pecan sale supports every corner of Glenwood’s work, from behavioral health services to educational support to workforce development. When you buy a bag, you are not just getting one of the state’s best holiday snacks. You are helping someone develop job skills, build independence, and participate meaningfully in their community. Or, as Shanda put it simply, “You’re helping individuals support themselves and be able to sustain their lifestyle here at Glenwood.”
You can buy pecans anywhere, but Glenwood pecans carry something extra: a story nearly 50 years in the making, a community that grows stronger with each season, and the unmistakable joy of knowing you helped someone take another step toward independence. When you take a bag home, you become part of that story too.