Friend of Manna Food Center
Cynthia, Manna’s Community Food Education Manager, shared at a recent staff meeting how everyone needs a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, fats, and proteins to live a healthy life. Similar to the building blocks of health, Manna’s donors, supporters, and volunteers are essential to creating a foundation upon which Manna’s mission is possible. With your time, talent, and treasure, we touched the lives of 31,710 neighbors in need last year. To continue our progress, we’ve included volunteers, board members, and community members in our planning process to reach 10,000 more people in the years ahead.
Earlier this month I hosted “Q&A” sessions for volunteers to discuss our progress and short and long-term plans. It was inspiring to hear questions, suggestions, and concerns from those of you who give your time regularly to Manna. I’m honored by the commitment to Manna that supporters like you have.
I’m thrilled to report that construction on our new office space and marketplace in East County began last month. This space will offer a range of foods in our choice market and space for collaboration and learning. At the end of April, we opened a distribution site at Gaithersburg Middle School to support families. In early July our warehouse will close for renovations, and we’ll relocate our food operations for two months. By the end of July, we’ll also have the East County center open at 12301 Old Columbia Pike. You can check out a
list of important
milestones
here. Clearly summer will be anything but dull, but I assure you we have every intention to continue our services without interruption.
We know that the people of Montgomery County have a deep desire to be of service, and we are committed to offering you a chance to help end hunger. In fact, the Manna Board and staff are dedicated to making this “More than a Move.”
There are still many details around our move to be determined.
Rest assured, we will continue to offer enriching volunteer opportunities around the County.
We are committed to updating our facilities and evolving our services to reach more neighbors in need. Thank you in advance for your flexibility and support. As always, feel free to drop me a line at
jackie@mannafood.org
.
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Do More is an annual 24-hour fundraiser that is powered by United Way of the National Capital Area. Funds raised through Do More 24 will help Manna meet the needs of our neighbors during the summer months, a time of year when support is the lowest but food insecurity remains high.
$24 will support local farms and farmers
and bring 75 pounds of fresh, locally grown produce to your neighbors who are experiencing hunger and food insecurity.
$48 will provide one month of nutritionally balanced food for weekend meals
to three elementary school children and their families who are experiencing hunger and food insecurity.
$124 will provide essential food support
to the average family receiving services from Manna Food Center for the year. Many families are faced with the unreasonable choice of choosing between spending their limited funds on food or necessary bills such as gas, electricity and rent.
$240 will provide food to make 96 nutritionally balanced meals for families
experiencing hunger and food insecurity.
With
just $24
you can make a difference in our community today!
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Growing Gardeners Comes to Manna Sites to Help Participants Nurture Green Thumbs
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Every year the Montgomery County Master Gardeners run "Growing Gardeners" at some of Manna's largest distribution sites. The Master Gardeners provide soil, seedlings, containers, and gardening instruction.
Earlier this month they visited Glenmont, Clifton Park, and Silver Spring UMC. Master Gardener Cat Kahn shared that they were delighted to find many repeat customers from past year. "Wishing all of our recipients a great gardening season!"
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Manny Visits a Takoma Park Neighborhood
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Barbara watched Manny, our mobile kitchen and pop-up pantry, drive through her street and she was curious to check out the bus. She was welcomed on board by Manna Food Center’s community food education volunteers who announced the pantry was open and free to all in the neighborhood. Stepping on board, Barbara sized up the rack of fresh produce and spotted the perfect bundle of collard greens for her neighbor. She’s excited to bring the fresh greens, peppers, tomatoes, and avocados to share with her neighbor as she recovers from recent surgery. “She can’t get out to the bus because of her health and age,” Barbara shares.
For Barbara and her neighbors, Manna Food Center provides residents with nutritious food, life skills, and support. Manny is making regular visits to neighborhoods, schools, and community centers across the county to share food and provide educational opportunities for children.
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Volunteer for Manna at Farmers Markets!
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Manna is excited to partner with 5 local farmers markets this year and
volunteers are needed to staff a table.
You'll collect food and funds while engaging with market customers about Manna's mission. Toward the end of the market, the volunteers assist the Market Manager in purchasing food from the farmers with funds collected that day. You'll also help bag and load the food on to our truck.
What to volunteer?
We are trying to make sure as many people as possible get the opportunity to support Manna in such a meaningful way. June and July slots have been filled. We will open sign-up for August-September very soon. Please keep an eye out for information or contact Mardia Dennis at mardia@mannafood.org.
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Community Food Rescue Volunteer Opportunities
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CFR Cooks!
In partnership with KindWorks, join us at the Silver Spring Community Kitchen to make delicious meals from rescued food! Last year our volunteers produced 1,728 meals for neighbors in need across Montgomery County.
CFR Gleaning
Volunteers harvest local farms’ crops after commercial harvest is complete. Join CFR and Montgomery County Master Gardeners for a few morning hours and learn about local Montgomery County farms. For details, dates, and sign up, contact: Susan Wexler,
communityfoodrescueoutreach@mannafood.org
CFR Food Runners
Transport recovered food from donor businesses to non-profit agencies in Montgomery County according to your schedule. Summer is a busy time as more local produce becomes available for donation and CFR Cooks seeks transport of freshly made meals to agencies. Visit
www.communityfoodrescue.org
and Click on DELIVER to learn more and sign up.
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Nutrition Tip: Fats & Proteins
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Incorporating healthy fats and proteins into meals can contribute to the feeling satiety (fullness) for a longer amount of time after eating. There are also quite a few nutrients that are almost exclusively found in proteins and fats.
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Kale is one of the most nutrient foods that you can eat which makes it among the healthiest. Kale is a part of the cabbage family. Kale comes in many different varieties which include being green, purple or can be curly or smooth shaped. One cup of kale has vitamin A, K, C, B6, B1, B2, B3, Manganese, Calcium, Copper, Potassium, and Magnesium. Kale is also loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants are substance that help to counteract oxidative damage by free radicals which can cause cancer, inflammation, and other health issues.
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Roasted Garlic Kale Hummus
By:
Cynthia Wilson
Servings
: 3 cups
Time
: 50 minutes
Source:
thegarlicdiaries.com
Ingredients:
- 1 head Garlic
- 5 Kale leaves
- 2 - 15.5oz cans Garbanzo Beans (chickpeas)
- 2 Lemons (about ½ cup juice)
- ½ cup Tahini (naturally separates)
- 4 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoons Water
- Cayenne and Black Pepper for serving
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Take apart head of garlic but leave each individual clove in wrapping.
- Set one clove aside and don’t roast. It will be added into the hummus raw.
- Place garlic cloves in a piece of foil, and drizzle a little olive oil over them with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Wrap the foil around the garlic cloves so that it forms a pouch, and roast for 25 mins, or until garlic is tender with a knife.
- Let garlic cool and bring a pot of water to a boil.
- Prep kale by cutting out the stems of each leaf and discarding stems.
- Slice kale in about 2 inch strips and add to boiling water for 1 min and 30 secs.
- When kale is finished boiling place in ice water bath to stop cooking.
- In a food processor, add garbanzo beans, lemon juice, tahini, olive oil, salt, kale leaves, roasted garlic and raw garlic clove.
- Process until smooth and then transfer to a bowl and drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle cayanne and pepper on top.
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Manna's Office Closed
Memorial Day - May 27
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All Manna Food Center offices will be closed on Monday, May 27 in honor of Memorial Day. Please contact our Participants Services Office at 301-424-1130 if you have questions about food pick-up or volunteering.
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Last Warehouse Distribution - Friday, May 24
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Please Share With Networks!
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As part of our renovation and expansion plans, Manna is shifting food distribution out of our warehouse lobby and over to Gaithersburg Middle School. Our last distribution at the warehouse will be Friday, May 24.
Volunteer activities -- including box packing, sorting food, and packing racks -- will continue until July when renovations begin.
If you have questions, call 301-424-1130.
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Available Volunteer Opportunities
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NOTE:
Due to the nature of our operations and upcoming renovations, we have a limited number of volunteer spaces available for the next few months.
Email
Katie
(katie@mannafood.org) for more information.
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Food Distribution
Volunteers help, Mon-Fri from 9am-3pm, pack and sort food, bag produce and meat, and take in food donations.
Please note
: Warehouse distribution end on May 24 but food sorting and packing activities will continue through July.
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Client Services Representative
Help log referrals by phone, fax, and email in to our database. Volunteers must be able to commit to a minimum of 6 months.
English/Spanish bi-lingual skills are a plus!
Shifts Currently Available: Day, Evening, or Floater (shift varies based on need)
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Satellite Distribution Centers
Volunteers needed to help distribute prepacked boxes, assist clients to their car, and take in food donations.
Tuesdays and Thursdays 3pm-7pm
Gaithersburg Middle School
Wednesdays 3pm-7pm
Clifton Park Baptist Church (formerly Long Branch Satellite)
Fridays 1pm-4pm
East County Regional Service Center
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Food Runners
Join Community Food Rescue (CFR), Montgomery County's network for food recovery. Help deliver rescued food to area shelters.
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A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Donors
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We extend a warm and sincere THANK YOU to all of the organizations and businesses that have donated food and funds between March 16, 2019 - April 15, 2019.
Without your incredible generosity, we would not be able to feed families in our community.
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A Day in Alexandria
ACAC Fitness and Wellness
Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation
All Fired Up
AMC Theaters
Amity Club of Washington Charity Foundation, Inc.
APA Inc.
Beltsville Adventist Church
Bethesda Big Train
Bethesda Co-Op
Bistro Aracasio
Blue Heron Wellness
Bluemercury Inc.
Box Associates Limited Partnership
Bullis School
Calleva Inc.
Capacity Partners, Inc.
Capital Area Food Bank
Capital Bank
Caribbean Help Center
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve
Century Distributors, Inc.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Chevy Chase E.S.
Chinmaya Mission Washington Regional Center
Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
City of Gaithersburg
City of Rockville
Clyde's Restaurant
Coastal Flats
Colesville United Methodist Men
Creekside at Leisure World
Crunch Fitness
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
DC Cruises
DC Metro Sai Samsthan
Del Frisco's Restaurant Group
Dick's Sporting Goods Inc
Dogfish Head Alehouse
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Falls Road Golf Course
First Baptist Church of Rockville
Founding Farmers
General Mills
Giant Food, Inc.
Girl Scout Troop #162
Girl Scout Troop #32033
Great Gatherings
Hampshire Greens Golf Course
Harris Family Foundation
Harris Teeter
Hershey Bears
Homespire Mortgage
Imperfect Produce
IPic Theatres
Jewish Residents of Leisure World
Julin Cheng-Hu Memorial
Julius West M.S.
Kaiser Permanente
King Farm Community Garden
Kramer Portraits
Larry E. Paul Certified Financial Planner
Legal & General America
Luray Caverns
Lutheran Church of St. Andrew
Marilu's Designs
Maryland School for Jewish Education
MC Federation of Families Child Mental Health
Medstar Montgomery Medical Center
Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union
Montgomery Blair H.S.
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Thrift Shop Board
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Nando's
National Council of Jewish Women
National Philharmonic
Newseum
Not Your Average Joe's
Ohr Kodesh Early Childhood Center
Olney Pediatrics
Or Haolam Ministries, Inc.
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar
Paul's Liquor Store
Periwinkle
Potomac United Methodist Church
Reddemead Equestrian Center
Renu by Dr. Schoenfeld
Response Tech
Rodman's
Roots
Round House Theatre
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Safeway
Schnabel Engineering
Seven Locks Baptist Church
Shadowland Laser Adventure
Shenandoah River Outfitter
Shoppers Food & Pharmacy
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church
Ski Liberty Mountain Resort
Snyder Cohn, PC
Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.
Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Inc.
Somerset E.S.
Southwest Airlines Corporation
St. Jane De Chantal Church
St. John The Baptist Catholic Church
St. Jude's Catholic Church/Shrine of St. Jude
Starbucks Corporation
State of Maryland
Stella Barra Pizzeria
Strathmore Music Center
Summer House Santa Monica
Sweat Shop Fitness
Target Corp
TD Charitable Foundation
Ted's Montana Grill
Temple Emanuel
Temple Sinai Women of Reform Judaism
The Arena Stage
The Nardi Family
The Woodhouse Day Spa
Tifereth Israel Congregation
Tikvat Israel Congregation
Town of Chevy Chase
Trader Joe's
True Buddha Temple Maryland
Uncle Julio's Restaurant
Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville
United Healthcare Services Inc.
Unity Christ Church of Gaithersburg
Village of Martin's Additions
Virginia Tech Dietetic Interns
Voortman Cookies
Walker Poole Insurance Inc.
Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church
Washington Nationals
Washington Redskins
Washington Wizards
Wegmans
Whole Foods Market
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Woman's Club of Chevy Chase
Wood Speaks
Xometry
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If you're interested in donating food, making a financial contribution, or volunteering, please contact us at:
Manna Food Center
9311 Gaither Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
301-424-1130
Remember to support Manna through your workplace giving campaign.
United Way # 8846 - CFC # 23028
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