Hello Manna,

I hope this letter reaches you well as the New Year settles in. I personally appreciate the moments of reflection that January brings, as well as the opportunity to set intentions for the upcoming months. I’m grateful that this month also brings the time to pause, remember, and serve in honor of Dr. King, and this year was no different for us here at Manna. We opened our Silver Spring location to host guided tours of our Choice Market and guests had the chance to learn about the evolving programs that Manna supports like Community Food Rescue, School-Based Programs, and Community Food Education (more on them below).

To finish the day, Manna invited community members, elected officials, and local voices to a roundtable discussion on ending childhood hunger in our community. The discussion invigorated me for the year ahead and topics included upcoming legislation in Annapolis, local policy efforts from our partners in the county, and testimony from an MCPS parent and Manna participant. I encourage you to listen to the roundtable linked below when you have a chance to hear about the exciting steps being taken towards #FoodForAll. “The voice of our residents is so important, and it’s often missing in…policy making,” Heather Bruskin of the Food Council shared as the roundtable came to a close, and I want to echo her sentiments and empower the Manna community to make their voices heard to local representatives whenever possible.

Read on to replay the roundtable, wish best wishes to departing Manna board members (and welcome two new ones), and catch up with the Community Food Education team. Thank you for being a part of Manna’s mission, and I wish you the best that the energy of the New Year has to offer!

Jackie DeCarlo

CEO, Manna Food Center

Manna Celebrates the Legacy of Dr. King

This month Manna welcomed community members and elected officials for a roundtable discussion on ending childhood hunger. View the recorded roundtable discussion at any time by clicking on the video below.

Replay Roundtable

Board Member Margaret Peng Rogers tours Council President Evan Glass through Manna's Silver Spring Choice Market

Roundtable panelists included Heather Bruskin (Executive Director of the Montgomery County Food Council), Shaun Sawko (MCPS DFNS Wellness Supervisor), Del. Jared Solomon (MD District 18), Council Member Gabe Albornoz (Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and immediate past President of the County Council), and an MCPS parent and Manna Participant. The panel is moderated by Jenna Umbriac (Manna's Director of Programs & Policies)

Best Wishes and New Welcomes to the Manna

Board of Directors

Manna’s Board of Directors provide guidance and service essential to the pursuit of Manna’s Mission and Vision. It's time to welcome two new members and say farewell to two members who lent us their time and support across multiple years and numerous projects. Manna wishes the best to Mitchell Glassman and Forrest Daniels, whose service was immeasurable and consistent. We thank Mitchell and Forrest for their stalwart support.

Join us in welcoming Jessica Cullen and Jeremy Rosner!

Jessica Cullen

Jeremy Rosner

Catch up with Community Food Education

Manna’s Community Food Education programming supports a crucial part of Manna’s mission by making valuable health information accessible to our community. The CFE team hosts Youth Classes aboard Manny, the mobile kitchen, Cooking for Wellness classes, Chats with a Nutrition Expert, and more (in both English and Spanish).

Recently, the CFE team joined forces with School-Based Programs to host a cooking demonstration at Harmony Hills Elementary School during their most recent school pantry. Cynthia Padilla Correa prepares samples for a recipe demonstation above.

Join Us Next Month: February Breaking Bread

Last month we came together to break bread and discuss Food Deserts: what they are, how they come about, and what we can do to eliminate them. A recording of last month's discussion can be found here. This month, we'll be connecting to talk about what eating seasonally means in our climate and community. February's session will be held virtually on Wed, Feb 15th from 12-1pm, reserve your spot to join us now here:

RSVP to February Breaking Bread

Start The New Year With an Act of Care

Thanks to your ongoing support, we have been able to launch a new choice pantry at Universities at Shady Grove, assist nearly 400 eligible families with SNAP applications, and rescue over 800k lbs of food through Community Food Rescue. Start 2023 with a simple act of care by completing your free estate plan with this simple, intuitive tool from our friends at FreeWill. Why is estate planning an act of care? Whether you’re eighteen or eighty, creating a will can help you protect the people you love while ensuring you can make important decisions for the future.

Start My Will

By taking 20 minutes to use FreeWill, you are taking 20 minutes to prioritize what matters most to you. In addition, you can take this act of care a step further by supporting Manna if you so choose. No matter what you decide to do for your plans, we hope your new year starts off on the right foot.

Give