Manna Blog:  Walking the Walk, Cooking the Box
Jackie here.  At Manna Food Center we fully embrace the notion that Dr. King's Birthday should be "a day ON, not a day off." This year in particular, I wanted to honor Dr. King in a way that would help me be a better leader.  Taking to heart Dr. King's observation that,    "The ultimate measure of a [hu]man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others."
 
I decided I wanted to test my commitment to the welfare of others by walking in the shoes of those Manna serves.  I began a week long "Manna diet."

Check out Jackie's full blog post here.
Heroes Against Hunger Reception Tickets Available

This third annual event celebrates the extraordinary contributions of our leaders in our community who are making a difference in the fight against hunger.   The reception will feature a social hour,  heavy hors d'oeuvres, & a meaningful program. 

Tickets now available. Click here for sponsorship inquiries.
Join Manna to Celebrate A New Choice Pantry
A Choice Pantry is a model of food assistance that allows recipients to choose their own food.   Instead of simply receiving a standard, assorted box of food, this model gives participants the ability to select the right food for their family, cultural, and health needs.

We invite you to walk through our choice pantry design to get a sense of how we are shifting the distribution process to that of a shopping environment. The event is casual and family friendly.  

Click Here to let us know that you are coming!
Daytime Volunteers Needed
Looking to volunteer as a group during the daytime?  Manna is seeking volunteer groups (18 years+) to volunteer throughout the months of February & March . Slots available Monday - Friday, 10AM - Noon.   

Fill out the "Groups" Volunteer Form & your group could possibly come in as early as next week! 
Starting The New Year Off Right!
A huge thank you to Manna's Board of Directors for putting together our year-end matching gift challenge and to all of our generous donors who supported this important campaign!  We made our match and are well positioned for success in 2017! 

Want to learn more about how Manna is addressing hunger?C heck out the  30th episode of Public Interest Podcast our CEO, Jackie, speaks about the 70,000-80,000 neighbors who experience food insecurity in Montgomery County at any given time and the need to integrate food assistance programs with other social services. 
MLK Jr. Weekend Food Drive Results
Many thanks to the entire community for supporting Manna's MLK Jr. weekend food drive! Food collected will help us feed thousands of people over the coming months.  We are tremendously grateful to Giant for hosting the drive, to the hundreds of volunteers who received donations in sub-optimal weather and the community at large for your generosity.  Together we collected:    
26,277 lbs from 27 Giant Food stores.  
Thank you!

When Winter Weather Comes...

With the cold weather finally here; snow may follow soon!  Snow days b ring a sense of wonder and excitement, as well logistical challenges.    
 
As a reminder, Manna follows Montgomery County Government  (not MCPS)  regarding closures & delays.  Manna posts announcements on our Facebook and  Twitter sites, as well as on our website. You can also call 301.424.1130 for recorded updates.  
 
Thank you and have a safe winter.

Available Volunteer Opportunities: 
Food Distribution
Volunteers help, Mon-Fri from 9am-3pm, pack and sort food, bag produce and meat, assist clients to their car, and take in food donations.
 
Must be 17 years of age of older.  This opportunity is approved for SSL hours.
 
distro volunteers 2015
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 required. 
 
Shifts Currently Available:
 
 Day or Evening Floater 
(Shift varies based on need)
 
 2nd Saturday of the Month, 10am-2pm 
(monthly commitment)
Email Katie  for more info
Satellite Distribution Centers
Volunteers help, Tuesday at Catholic Charities and Wednesday at Long Branch Community Center from 3pm-7pm, distributing prepacked boxes, assisting clients to their car, and taking in food donations. 
 
Must be 17 years of age of older.  This opportunity is approved for SSL hours.
 
Food Runner
Join Community Food Rescue (CFR), Montgomery County's network for food recovery. Help deliver rescued food to area shelters.
 
Click here to learn how you can help feed more and waste less.


For more information about these and any other volunteer opportunities visit our  website .
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Donors
We extend a warm and sincere THANK YOU to all of the organizations and businesses 
that have donated food and funds between November 16, 2016 - December 15, 2016. 

Without your incredible generosity, we would not be able to feed families in our community. 

2 U Inc.
Academy Child Development Center
Academy of Fine Arts
Antonia, Inc.
Arkin Youngentob Associates, LLC
Aspen Hill Club
Association of Government Accountants
Association of Public Health Laboratories
Bainbridge Shady Grove Metro Apartments
Baker Merine Family Foundation
Bank of America
Bethesda Central Farmers' Market
Bethesda Co-Op
Bethesda Country Day School
BEx LLC
B'nai Israel Congregation
Boy Scout Troop #24
Boy Scout Troop #433
Boy Scout Troop #463
Bumblebees Child Care, LLC
Cadence at Crown
Capital Area Food Bank
Carmax Gaithersburg
CAS & Associates
CDCI
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
Charles and Nancy Barkley
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
Chesterbrook Academy
Chevy Chase Village
Children's Manor Montessori School
Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Church of The Redeemer
City of Gaithersburg
City of Rockville
Clarksburg E.S.
Cliff and Deborah White Family Fund
Clopper Mill E.S.
Col. Zadok Magruder H.S.
Colesville Presbyterian Church
Cub Scout Pack #1306
Cub Scout Pack #52
Dawsons Market
Department of Finance- Montgomery County
Department of General Services
Dick and Jody Vilardo Foundation
Dr. Martin Luther King M.S.
Dr. Sally K. Ride E.S.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Environmental Mgmt. Services, Inc.
Experient
Fields Road E.S.
First Baptist Church of Rockville
First Fruits Farm
Five678 Studio of Dance
Fleet Management Services
Flower Hill E.S.
Folk'n Great Music
Fox Chapel E.S.
Fox Hills West Community
GDS/Aetna
Georgetown Preparatory School
Giant #301 - Aspen Hill
Giant Food
Girl Scout Troop #2113
Glen Haven E.S.
Goodman-Gbale-Gould/Adjusters International
Grace Episcopal Day School
Grace United Methodist Church
Grady Management
Greek Orthodox Church of St. George
Greg Gannon Food Drive
Harris Teeter
Hartman Design Group Inc.
Haven Universe
Henry Jackson Foundation
Hermon Presbyterian Church
Higher Connection Church
Howard & Jacqueline Chertkof Foundation
HPR LLC
HZDG
Ivymount School
J. Craig Venter Institute
Jackson Road E.S.
The JBG Companies
JCBE Inc.
Jesus is Lord Church
Jewish Community Center
Jewish War Vet. Ladies Aux.
JGB Trucking LLC
Journey's Crossing Congregation
Judith A. Resnick E.S.
Julin Cheng-Hu Memorial
Kaiser Permanente
Katzman Family Foundation
Kensington Park Senior Living
KS Kuts
Lanigan, Ryan, Malcom & Doyle PC
Larry E. Paul Certified Financial Planner
Leaders Institute
Leidos Corp Justice
Leisure World
Lerner Corporation
Lifechurch of Maryland
Lincoln Consulting Group,  Inc.
Long & Foster Realtors
Macy's/Bloomingdale's
Mater Dei Council Charities, Inc.
McLean School of Maryland
Metro Maryland ARMA Chapter
MNCPPC Dept. of Parks
Montgomery Blair H.S.
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Employees FCU
Montgomery County Master Gardeners
Montgomery County Office of Human Resources
Montgomery County Thrift Shop Board
Montgomery Faith Fellowship
Montgomery Master Gardeners
Montgomery United Methodist Church
Montrose Baptist Church
Morgan Stanley - The Feldman Group
Moyer & Sons Moving & Storage, Inc.
Nasdaq OMX
National Council of Jewish Women
National Lutheran Communities & Services
Naval Support Activity Bethesda RMD
Neelsville M.S.
New America Financial
NIST Child Care Center
Norman's Farm Markets
North Chevy Chase E.S.
OGVC Homeowner's Association
Olney Farmers & Artists' Market
Osher at Johns Hopkins University
Otsuka America Pharmeceutical, Inc.
Our Voices Matter
Park Sutton Condo Inc.
Parkside Condominium
Philip L. Graham Fund
Poolesville H.S.
Potomac Presbyterian Church
QIAGEN
Quince Orchard H.S.
Ralph S. & Frances R. Dweck Family Fdn., Inc.
Response Tech
Restoration Church of Maryland
Robert Frost M.S.
Robert Pence Remodeling, Inc.
Roberto Clemente M.S.
Rock View E.S.
Rockville Farmers' Market
Rockville Holiday Giving
Rockville Running Club
Rockville Town Square
Ronald McNair E.S.
Roots
S. Christa McAuliffe E.S.
Safeway
Saint Mark Presbyterian Church
Seven Locks E.S.
Seventh Day Adventist Church
Shady Grove M.S
Sherwood H.S.
Shrine of St. Jude
Sidney Katz
Sigma Tau Pharmaceuticals
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church
Sligo Creek E.S.
Sodexo
Sodexo Foundation
Sodexo Foundation, Inc
Spenserville Adventist Church
Springbrook H.S.
Springbrook High School Music Boosters
St. James Childrens School
St. Mary's Catholic Church
State of Maryland
Steele Foundation, LLC
Strategic Economic Solutions LLC
Strawberry Knoll E.S.
Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-Op
TD Charitable Foundation
Temple Emanuel
The 1966 Charitable Trust
The Black Student Union of MC
The Bresler Foundation
The Cleaning Authority
The Community Foundation, National Capital Region
The Goddard School
The Heights School
The Hwang Foundation
Thurgood Marshall E.S.
Tikvat Israel Congregation
Trader Joe's
Twinbrook Baptist Church
Twinbrook Community Church
Ultra Electronics
Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville
United Communications Group
United Methodist Women
US Wellness, Inc.
Village of Martin's Additions
VITAL
Voortman Cookies
Wayside E.S.
Wegmans
Weller Road E.S.
Whetstone E.S.
Whole Foods Market
Whole Kids Academy
Woodley Garden Club
WTS International
If we accidentally missed your business or organization in our list, please email   Therese Lampe  and we will make the correction in our next list.  We wish we could also list each of the individuals who contribute to Manna; thank you all again for your support!    
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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