Tragedy inspires Montgomery honey-maker to help community
Montgomery small business owner Sam Yu has been cultivating honey for years, but his aspirations changed after his younger brother, David, was killed last year.
“When that happened I went to a dark place, and God placed the right people in my pathway to turn something bad into something positive, and instead of going out there doing wrong, I’m able to feed the community in his honor," Yu said.
Among other things, he has since started a nonprofit called Help A Brother Out "because I wanted someone to help my brother out." Yu's goals with the nonprofit are to combat poverty and food insecurity. To do that he partners with Fredrick Williams, of the American Legion and the PEERS Program, which stands for Positive Environment Engaging Recovery Support, to organize a food drive.
Williams has been holding the food drive every month for two years. It is a mobile food pantry, so Williams brings an 18-wheeler to different areas across town to feed people in need. They feed about 700 to 1,000 people at each drive.
The next food drive is at 10 a.m. April 21 at the Newtown Community Center, 1765 North Decatur St.
Yu is the owner of Zizis Bee Company, named after his daughter Zuri. After years of beekeeping and honey-making, his aspirations for that grew as well, and he officially started the company in July 2022.
He said he "we went for it, and it took off." Now the honey is sold in five locations throughout Montgomery. On top of tending to his beehives, Yu offers professional bee removal services, educational beehive tours and a wide variety of natural honey products.
Meanwhile, Yu and Williams see an opportunity to help in other ways. The two are working to establish the Alabama Veterans Resource Center, where they would offer numerous services for veterans all under one roof. They've gotten confirmation from a variety of professionals, from psychiatrists to yoga instructors, that say they would serve at the center.
“It’s going to be a one-stop shop for them," Yu said.
They estimate the project will cost at least $2 million and say they are working with local and state officials to reach that goal. “We need community support more than anything," Williams said. “Let us not forget our veterans."
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Yu has another vision. With land that he inherited from his great-grandmother, Yu wants to establish a community garden with bee colonies, fruit trees, a food pantry and vegetable gardens.
It'll take money to fully realize that vision, too, but he's not waiting. Yu said he plans to start growing vegetables out of hay bales at the site next month.
Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or 479-926-9570.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Tragedy inspires Montgomery honey-maker to help community
