FRESH NEWS August 2022

Monthly News from MANNA FoodBank
IN THIS ISSUE:

It takes a community of hands working in concert to get food to our neighbors throughout WNC. Read through Fresh News to learn about some of our supporters who make this work possible.

  • It Takes a Community
  • Thank You to our Driving Team
  • 20 Years of Giving
  • Hunger Action Month
  • Turning Lemonade into Food for Neighbors
  • Affordable Connectivity Program
  • Partner Spotlight: East Asheville Welcome Table
  • Did You Know: Charitable Gift Annuities 

It's almost Hunger Action Month (September!) and there are many different ways that you can take action to help end hunger and food insecurity in WNC. 


Read the story below to find out what you can do this Hunger Action Month.

It Takes a Community 

Recognizing Our Partners That Help Us Get Food to Neighbors Throughout WNC

Halfway through the year, we are taking time to reflect upon the first half of 2022. In that time, we have endured some of the biggest challenges we have ever faced as an organization due to the effects of the pandemic, inflation and supply chain issues.


Throughout every stage of these difficulties, however, we have been able to continue to distribute nutrient-dense food because of the support we have received from our passionate community of supporters. 

While supply chain issues continued to stifle our regular means of acquiring food, there were a number of partners who provided us with food donations. We are filled with gratitude for the public and private partners who donated food, despite also being affected by supply chain challenges.


Furthermore, we want to thank all of the incredible organizational supporters for their contributions, which helped provide nutrient-dense food for our neighbors to bring home and enjoy.

Delivering Food Throughout the Mountains

A Special Thank You to our Drivers

By 7:00 AM each weekday morning, MANNA's commercial trucks are on the road delivering food to individuals and families seeking food assistance, and our MANNA Community Market trucks are loading for the day's markets. Our drivers' destinations range from a wide variety of partners scattered across the 16 western most counties of WNC, including the Qualla Boundary, to community-based markets where our dedicated drivers bring food to share with our neighbors.

During these trips throughout our region, these amazing drivers deliver MANNA Packs, pickup donations, deliver fridge and freezer units from Thermo Fisher, deliver perishable food items, and take it upon themselves to do whatever else needs to be done to assist partners and individuals seeking food assistance. 


We want to recognize and thank our driving teams for driving through the mountains in all different kinds of weather to make sure our neighbors have food to eat. 

20 Years of Giving 

One Person Providing Meals Each Month

At 81 years of age, Clyde Waters, Jr. has been a lifelong resident of Asheville and has witnessed many of the transformations the city has undergone. After attending local grade and high schools, he began working jobs that sought to better the local community. After a lengthy career in public service, he retired as the Leadership Director at the YMCA in downtown Asheville, where he helped provide locals with scholarships and financial assistance, and decided to become a monthly donor of MANNA.

After Clyde retired, he decided he would continue giving back to his community by donating $10 each month to a few organizations in Asheville. Since then, 20 years have gone by, and Clyde has generously given OVER 250 MONTHLY DONATIONS to MANNA. When asked what inspired him to give and continue giving to MANNA, Clyde stated, "the thought of helping put food on someone's plate, because helping others is what I find most fulfilling." 


The donations Clyde has made have helped secure and provide food assistance, as well as hope, for individuals and families throughout all of WNC for over two decades. We are incredibly grateful for people in our community, like Clyde, who continue to keep our friends and neighbors facing hardship centered in their hearts, and work to make our region better for everyone.

Are You Ready to Take Action?

Hunger Action Month Begins September 1st

Every September, the network of 200 Feeding America food banks and our partners in food security work to raise awareness of the dire issue that our country is facing - many Americans are facing an empty plate, and don't know where their next meal will come from.

In WNC, we are continuing to see an increased need for food as the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis continue to dominate our region.


While the situation can be overwhelming, we want you to see what is truly overwhelming: the community of people that have come together since the pandemic to make sure that everyone in our region has food on their plates.


How You Can Take Action


Every Hunger Action Month, we put together a calendar with actions that can be taken each day. These actions aim to educate, while working towards a hunger-free WNC. 


As we get closer to the month of September, we will begin sharing reminders on how you can take action. In the meantime, print out the calendar and begin incorporating Hunger Action Month into your plans for September.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Turn Them Into Food for Neighbors  

Last month, when Lars and Leif's cousins, Hanni, Anouk, Esme and Poppy visited from Florida, they decided that they wanted to do something for the community. The six children then put together a lemonade stand and sold homemade lemonade, bottled water and chocolate chip cookies to their neighbors in Asheville.


Thanks to their efforts, these community-minded kids raised enough money to provide over 500 meals for our neighbors throughout WNC.

Affordable Connectivity Program

Help Spread the Word

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) allows qualifying households to reduce their internet service costs by up to $30 a month (or $75 a month on Tribal lands). This program also provides a one-time financial support for purchasing a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet.

ACP-eligible households may include those who: 


- Utilize SNAP or WIC benefits

- Receive Social Security Income (SSI)

- Receive Medicaid

- Utilize Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)

- Participate in Free and Reduced-Price School Meal Programs

- Participate in Tribal assistance programs

- Meet the eligibility criteria for existing broadband provider’s low-income internet program


Find Out More Here


Help us spread the word about this program to families who might qualify! We know that every little bit makes a big difference for our neighbors facing ongoing economic struggles.

Partner Spotlight

East Asheville Welcome Table

The East Asheville Welcome Table is an engaged and committed partner of ours who host and serve free weekly dinners.


The East Asheville Welcome Table is run by a group of volunteers who love interacting with their community. In the past 6 months, The East Asheville Welcome Table has distributed 3,623 pounds of food, while serving an average of 500 meals each month.


East Asheville Welcome Table's weekly meals include live music performed by community members, games of cards, and knitting. 


The Welcome Table's dedication to creating a food secure community, however, goes beyond their walls. At the beginning of the pandemic, Welcome Table volunteers leapt into action and served meals to folks staying at the Ramada Inn.


We are thankful to have such a remarkable partner like East Asheville Welcome Table, who consistently do all they can to ensure their neighbors have access to food with dignity. If you or anyone you know lives near East Asheville and could benefit from a free dinner, be sure to stop by the East Asheville Welcome Table from 5:00-6:30 PM on Thursdays.

Did You Know...

Ways to Give to MANNA

Income can be earned while still still leaving a legacy via a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGAs). You can start a charitable gift annuity at any age. Individuals 55 years or older can expect an annual annuitant rate of at least 4% with quarterly payments. Additionally, CGA's provide a charitable tax deduction at the time of establishing the annuity. Learn more about how you can earn income while making an impact in the future here.


You can also leave MANNA in your estate. To learn more about how you can leave MANNA In your estate plans, click here


If you would like to learn more about these unique ways to give, please contact Director of Philanthropic Engagement, Chad Conaty.

Nutrition Works:

Chef Neil's Tomato Pie

Our Nutrition Works team works to provide our clients with recipes detailing how to create healthy dishes and treats with the ingredients that they are bringing home from our mobile markets.

It's tomato season and if you have some tomatoes that need to be used, try Chef Neil's Tomato Pie recipe.


Chef Neil is the chef for Haywood Pathways' The Holy Cow Food Truck, which drives around Haywood County providing free meals five days per week. 

Trying out a recipe? Tag us on social media!
Share your results with us! If you love to share healthy recipes, make a recipe your own, or simply share your photos, we'd love to see how it turns out. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Happy (and healthy) cooking!

MANNA is Hiring!

Join Our Team as an Americorps Member

MANNA is looking for passionate individuals who are eager to join our team and help create a food secure WNC. 


Right now, we are looking to fill multiple AmeriCorps positions. 


If you know of anyone who may be interested, please encourage them to check our website for opportunities.

EVENTS + CAMPAIGNS

Outpace Hunger

Paddling to Combat Food Insecurity

MANNA's community of Outpace Hunger participants is growing, as folks all over WNC "feed people and their passion" this summer. There are all sorts of ways to turn miles into meals, from running and biking, to hiking or walking, and even paddling. 


Avid paddlers Bill and Liz have been paddling together since 1980. They're out on the water this summer and asking friends and family to support their goal along the way. Every $1 raised equals 4 meals, and they have already raised over 1,200 meals for neighbors. 


Find out more about Outpace Hunger and how you can feed people and your passion. 

RECOGNITION + THANK YOU

We'd like to thank the following foundations for their support of food distribution:

  • Bank of America Charitable Foundation
  • Combined Federal Campaign
  • State Employees Credit Union
  • TD Charitable Foundation
  • United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County
  • United Way of Haywood County
  • United Way of Henderson County
  • Woodforest Charitable Foundation

We'd like to thank the following Feeding America corporate partners for helping communities across WNC access food: 

  • Food Lion

We'd like to thank the following Events + Campaigns for working to create a food secure WNC: 

  • Asheville Cotton Company
DECADES OF PARTNERSHIP
Together, MANNA FoodBank and Ingles Markets have been filling plates for more than three decades. Thank you for your dedicated partnership, Ingles Markets!
THANK YOU!
We want to thank all of you who have joined us in rising to meet the unprecedented need for food in WNC.

We are deeply grateful to have come this far together, and together, we can continue to serve all those who turn to MANNA in their moments of need.
Involve, Educate, and UNITE
MANNA FoodBank remains strongly committed to standing alongside all those united in seeking positive change, equity, and justice for all. 
Your Voice Matters:
Advocate for those experiencing poverty.

MANNA's mission is to involve, educate, and unite people in the work of ending hunger, and an important part of this mission is advocating for those living in and experiencing the effects of poverty.

As a non-partisan organization, dedicated to sharing information about the issues affecting the people we serve together, MANNA does not endorse political parties or candidates. We simply ask people to work with our elected officials to make legislation that works for us all, and makes our region, our state, and our country stronger from the ground up.

If you are interested in receiving advocacy-related emails from MANNA FoodBank, please click the button below. By clicking here, you are signing up to receive information from MANNA about ways you can use your voice, and actions you can take, to help work towards our vision of a hunger-free Western North Carolina.
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