Greetings!
I hope this new year is treating you well so far. Though 2022’s wintery beginning and rising COVID-19 case counts were certainly a challenging start, I was once again reminded of the incredible dedication of our call center team and logistics staff, who stepped up to make sure our participants continued to be served through the uncertain circumstances. Their flexibility and teamwork are what keeps Manna working towards #FoodForAll. 

Though a new year typically is an opportunity to reset and re-center, in the shift from one year to the next, I realized that--and perhaps you can relate-- I have been struggling with burnout and its associated symptoms: cynicism, self-doubt, irritability, and fatigue (not to mention eating Nutella out of the jar). Key to shaking this funk was the opportunity I had to get out from behind my desk and ride along with my Manna Food Center teammate, Elijah Ray, for food deliveries during the holiday season. With the hopes that you will find inspiration, I want to share the story here.  

As we reflect on the actions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I’m once again grateful for the community that supports Manna as together we serve all the community, no matter what.

Read on to learn about how volunteers, donors, and partners in the community rallied around Dr. King’s commitment to service and how some friends of Manna are debuting a new theater production. It’s also not too late to nominate a Hero Against Hunger, and be sure to make plans to join our upcoming Awards Reception! 
Jackie DeCarlo
CEO, Manna Food Center
MLK Weekend in Review
This past weekend we celebrated the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with our 2022 Make a Plate Campaign and cheered on our partners at the Islamic Center of Maryland.

We congratulate our friends at ICM for their successful MLK Day of Service this past Sunday. Their commitment to service and collaboration brings us closer to #FoodForAll.

We would also like to thank all who were able to #MakeaAPlate, we enjoyed reading your favorite MLK quotes and are grateful for your support towards a more equitable food system.
Kids Helping Kids
We realize this school year has been challenging for students, parents, teachers, and staff. We are glad to be able to share some good news: Our annual Kids Helping Kids Campaign was once again a huge success recently.

Thank you to all participating schools for collecting food and funds to help sustain our shelves through the winter. Altogether, the schools raised $12,671 and collected 26,751 lbs of food! Your collective efforts will help feed hundreds of kids in our County this year.

We also want to congratulate North Bethesda Middle School for winning the Kids Helping Kids campaign this year by providing 3,116 lbs of food. We are honored to present your school with this award and grateful for your spirit of generosity.
Thank You Roberts Oxygen
During the holiday season, the generous staff of Roberts Oxygen offered a $100,000 challenge match—and you helped us meet it the goal!  Thank you to Roberts Oxygen for supporting our cause of fighting hunger. We are honored to receive such support, and grateful for the partnership of this local business.
We would also like to thank every holiday contributor for donating to Manna Food Center. With your donations, we strive to support our neighbors fighting hunger, educate the community about nutrition and food waste, and build a stronger food system. Together, we work towards the vision of #FoodForAll.
Rockville Little Theatre
Theatre Lovers:

To celebrate Rockville Little Theatre's 74th Season, proceeds from their new production Bad Seed will benefit Manna Food Center.

Escape from your worries with the distraction of good local talent: Bad Seed tells the story of Christine Penmark who seems to have it all--a loving husband, a beautiful home, and the perfect daughter, Rhoda. But when a child drowns under suspicious circumstances, the whole town starts to speculate about what really happened.

Want to know how it plays out? Watch their performance on Bad Seed next week!

Tickets are available now. For a special $2 discount and to share the ticket sales with Manna, use the code FOOD while purchasing your ticket.

For more information, go to this link. We hope to see you there!
Heroes Against Hunger 2022
It's time again for our annual Heroes Against Hunger Awards Reception!

Do you know any Heroes that Fight Hunger? We've extended our nomination period to January 31st and want to hear from you! Nominate yourself or others here.

We are excited to return to an in-person Awards Reception that will observe safety protocols; mark your calendar for April 27th and join us!

Businesses: Are you interested in supporting this event through sponsorship? Sponsors receive recognition in all marketing materials for the event, including the event program, email blasts, Manna’s website, and social media. For more information on becoming a sponsor, click here.