Hello Manna,

I hope that this letter finds you well and enjoying moments of light and peace this holiday season. The bustling end-of-year period always proves to be Manna Food Center’s busiest time, especially this year, as we respond to the highest demand for service on record. Below you will find two recent stories from WTOP and the Washington Post, whose coverage included Manna’s efforts to nourish our neighbors at 25 locations around the county and through our network of dozens of MCPS schools. I invite you to read the stories to build awareness of what our neighbors and the not-for-profit sector serving them are facing as winter sets in. In this season of giving, if you can respond with a financial donation, and haven’t yet had a chance to give, we welcome your support as we enter Manna’s fifth decade of service. 

Yes, this is the last newsletter marking Manna’s 40th anniversary. On behalf of all of us at Manna, I thank you and the entire community of supporters who have made our 40th year filled with fun, joy, and trips down memory lane. If you’d like a look back at some of the highlights from the festivities or our “Manna Memories”, visit our You Tube channel. 

One special announcement to make as we look to the new year is the election of two new board members, Gregory Jenkins and Kendra Venable. Greg and his family have been long-time supporters of Manna, helping us launch the Smart Sacks program in 2005. Kendra, who is a former Top Woman in Grocery, represents Giant Food, Manna’s first food donor. I’m excited by these historic connections as we continue to move Manna toward our vision of Food for All. 

Finally, and humbly, I want to take this opportunity to share a big thank you to all who helped us reach our goal on Giving Tuesday. Your generosity, matched with the lead gifts of Roberts Oxygen and the Balto Family, surpassed our goal. Year-end financial boosts like these make it possible to welcome our participants into the New Year with hope. 

All of us here at Manna extend our warmest wishes for a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year! 

Jackie DeCarlo

CEO, Manna Food Center

Food banks’ demand surges ahead of first Thanksgiving without pandemic aid

...as the country approaches its first Thanksgiving since [SNAP and other] such safety-net programs expired, some local food banks say the need is higher than it’s been in years. “We are seeing unprecedented demand,” said Jackie DeCarlo, chief executive of Manna Food Center, a nonprofit food distribution center in Montgomery County.

Manna provided meals to 5,781 families last month, DeCarlo said, eclipsing its monthly high during the pandemic by about 1,000.

High prices, reduced benefits: Local food bank sees need up, donations down

“We’ve been seeing in the 5,000s every month, whereas at the height of the pandemic, we were more in the 4,000s.”

Manna receives funding from a number of sources, and DeCarlo said: “Our donors in Montgomery County are always exceedingly generous,” but recent food drives and financial donations are down.

DeCarlo said it’s obvious to anyone who shops for groceries that budgets at every level are being stretched.

Gregory Jenkins

Kendra Venable

We are proud to announce our newest Board of Directors members, Gregory Jenkins, Community Advocate and Former Director of Consumer Lending, Congressional Federal Credit Union and Kendra Venable, Fresh Sales Manager, Giant Food. Their expertise and background are a valuable addition to our board of community leaders.

Manna’s Board of Directors provide guidance and service essential to the pursuit of Manna’s Mission and Vision. Kendra and Greg are looking forward to working to pursue the priorities of Manna’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. 

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