About Us
Peoples’ Loan Program provides no-interest loans to residents of the West Alabama community, offering hope and dignity to those in financial distress.
Peoples’ Loan Program began in 2019 as a response to the payday loan problem in West Alabama. The non-profit organization was started by members of Grace Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa.
Peoples’ Loan Program was formed exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or corresponding provisions of any future Internal Revenue regulations. No portion of its assets are benefiting any director, officer, or member, except clerical or coordinator salaries, contracted labor, and suppliers as may be approved by its Board of Directors.
The composition of the Board of Directors represents the diversity of the membership, including founding member organizations, new member organizations, and beneficiaries of Peoples’ Loan Program.
Client Advocate and Loan Manager (CALM)
Betty Jones
Betty is PLP’s main point of contact. She manages client intake and our loans.
Officers
President
Max Shores
Forest Lake United Methodist Church
Max Shores and his wife, Cindy, struggled to make ends meet on many occasions as they raised their three daughters. They have personal experience with payday loans and a car title loan. Max is proud to be a part of an organization that lends a helping hand without seeking profit.
He is an Emmy winning producer of public television programs and documentary films. His documentaries for Alabama Public Television have been shown around the world and received film festival awards.
Max is the son of a United Methodist minister and a High School English teacher, and he grew up on a small farm near Winfield, Alabama. His family grew much of their own food on the farm and shared with others from their harvest. Visitors to the Shores home left with full hearts and full hands from the engaging stories told and the vegetables shared.
Max attended Bevill State Community College in Jasper and the University of Alabama. He graduated with a Master“s Degree in Communications from the University of Alabama where he worked for 35 years in the Center for Public Television & Radio. Having retired in 2021, he continues to teach media production labs at UA part-time. He is a member of Forest Lake United Methodist Church where he is on the Missions Committee and mixes sound for worship services.
Treasurer
Judy Taylor
Grace Presbyterian
As the oldest of 11 growing up in rural Mississippi, I lived in the world of the working poor, eating simple meals and wearing hand-me-down clothes. I learned that a helping hand often makes life better. My experiences as an employee and as an employer help me support and serve as an assistant treasurer for PLP. I serve on the boards of Alabama Arise and Tuscaloosa International Friends. I am co-lead for Moms Demand Action for Sensible Gun Legislation Tuscaloosa and am actively politically.
The Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a tireless fighter for women and the poor, is my hero! It has been said that ”I collect people“ and it is true. She loves to meet and experience people from all aspects of life and around the world. I truly believe in the goodness of people, the loving forgiveness of God and the blessings that comes from helping those in need.
Board Members
Iain Barksdale
Unitarian Universalist
Iain was inspired to join the board of PLP based on his early childhood experience with poverty in a single-parent household with two children. He remembers too often coming home to find their belongings packed up in boxes on the curb-side for everyone in their small town to see. All from being late on the rent and having no support in the community. PLP isn’t just about exigent loans; it’s about helping people get past tough economic situations with community support.
In his spare time, if he is not spending it with his family, Iain enjoys brewing and drinking his own beer and being a general maker of things.
Iain thinks there are many heroes out in the world. Anyone who perseveres through adversity and discrimination, to be confident in who they are, is a hero in his eyes.
Although born in California, Iain has called many places home—Ohio, Scotland, Kentucky, Indiana, Arizona, Alabama—and it has shown him how amazing and diverse America is.
Linda Crowder
A Better Service Company
Linda is a Tuscaloosa native. She has always been committed to assisting where possible those less fortunate. She worked in the 1980s as a VISTA (domestic peace corps) worker. Served as state representative for NCADV (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence) and volunteer for local shelter facility. Economic inequality in society, she believes, is one of the main problems we face. She is a partner in a small business here in Tuscaloosa and committed to uplifting our fellow humans whenever possible.
John Gilmer
Canterbury Episcopal Chapel
John Gilmer is a Mobile, Alabama native with a passion for education, tax reform, and community-building. In teaching English to college students from over 20 different nations in Nantes, France and working alongside community leaders in Memphis to develop Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites through AmeriCorps to fight predatory tax preparers, John found his calling in work that empowers others to find or use their voice in the classroom and community alike. PLP’s mission to combat predatory lending in West Alabama has become one of his own, and John is excited to serve as PLP’s newest board member.
After serving with the University of Alabama School of Social Work for 3 years as a field education coordinator, John joined Student Life as the Assistant Director of Student Involvement and now works with over 650 student organizations to develop professionally, plan successful events on campus, and build partnerships on and off campus. John earned his B.A. in English Literature and French Studies from Sewanee and his M.A. in English Literature from the University of Alabama and serves on the vestry of Canterbury Episcopal Chapel. John is excited to serve as the newest PLP board member, and when he’s not training to run yet another obstacle course race, you’ll find him at concerts, spending time with his family (including his identical twin!), or pretending he still knows how to play the violin.
Gillie Presley
First Presbyterian Church
From the time Gillie can remember she saw her family members demonstrate their care of all people. No particular words were spoken, but her paternal grandmother, mother, and father quietly helped people in their communities. This help included money, food, time, and recognition of others. These examples fostered a desire in Gillie to serve and advocate for change that would benefit everyone.
Gillie is a graduate of the Alabama School for the Blind. She received a B.S. degree in elementary education from Troy University, and a M.A. degree in special education from The University of Alabama. She taught special education in Tuscaloosa County for many years and is now happily retired.
In her retirement, Gillie enjoys pursuing her interest in social justice through Grace Presbyterian Church, Alabama Arise, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, and The Peoples’ Loan Program. Gillie also participates in the National American Council for the Blind’s scholarship committee and two book groups.
Sandy Stilson
First Presbyterian Church
Being the oldest of six children, the responsibility of providing for a family of eight fell upon Sandy unexpectedly at the age of seventeen when her father became medically disabled. She was acutely aware of the value of every dollar and grateful for every item of “commodity” food given to her family.
While working with her husband, a bankruptcy trustee, she saw first-hand how poverty and payday loans affect families and generations of families. It was with disbelief that she became aware of how many people are unable to read in West Alabama and how few personal possessions were listed on their bankruptcy petitions. A large percentage of the bankruptcies were caused by medical reasons.
Sandy loves to be with her family, especially her husband, their children, and grandchildren. She especially loves to cook for her family.
Sandy is a really good listener. People that Sandy doesn’t know and will never see again tell her their life stories and problems.
Lou Ann Sellers
First Presbyterian Church
Serving as a pastor in Tuscaloosa since 2008, Lou Ann first became involved in advocating for the reform of payday lending practices by attending Tuscaloosa Citizens Against Predatory Practices’ (T-CAPP) kick-off rally: “Working to End Predatory Lending.” One speaker challenged the crowd with this story: “If your community along a river notices babies floating by, then charity is pulling those babies out of the water as they float downstream. Justice is going upstream to find out who is throwing the babies in the water.” She was inspired. She began working with her congregation First Presbyterian Church, Tuscaloosa to advocate for change in Alabama law to end high-interest, payday loans. Years later they continue advocating hopeful that grassroots initiatives like the People’s Loan Program will help people avoid getting caught in the vicious cycle of payday lending debt.
Married to a German-American pastor and professor, Thomas Herwig, and raising their teenaged daughter bilingually, Lou Ann finds very few dull moments in the Sellers-Herwig household! From mission pastor duties to soccer mom, she strives with her husband to foster a justice-minded daughter, as well.
Donna Foster
Future Living Community Services
Shelley Hancock
First Presbyterian Church
Linda Grote
Grace Presbyterian Church
