April 2019
E-Newsletter
Friend of Manna Food Center

Last week I harvested my first "salad" from my garden! It was a mix of greens that had served as centerpieces at our Heroes Against Hunger (HAH) celebration. It was a small but tasty start of spring. I like to work in the garden to connect with the soil, occasionally find a cute wriggling earthworm, and enjoy the satisfaction of eradicating weeds. Perfect activities for April, the month our world celebrates Earth Day on the 22 nd .

Year round Manna Food Center is connected to the earth, especially through our food recovery efforts. The Community Food Rescue network matches sources of surplus food with agencies that serve our hungry neighbors. Powered by volunteer food runners, we are able to divert food that might go to waste from donors such as Ridgewells Catering, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, and Giant Food to peer agencies. Hilton’s Canopy, for example, donated surplus food from our HAH celebration to Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless.

With acreage well beyond the raised bed in my garden, five partners participating in Farm to Food Bank do the hard work of planting, cultivating, and harvesting fresh produce to help Manna offer tasty and healthy items to more than 3,000 participants a month. The farmers are located across Montgomery County, at plots in Ashton, Brookeville, Dickerson, and Germantown. We also purchase through farmers markets in Bethesda, Olney, and Rockville. By selling their crops to Manna at a discounted price, these small businesses are giving back to the community.  

Speaking of community, let me give you a quick update on our work in East County to build "The Center" for ending hunger. We have the green light to begin demolition at our site at 12301 Old Columbia Pike, with a goal of moving in this summer. We continue to finalize renovation plans for 9311 Gaither Road and will soon convene “Q&A” sessions about the process to help supporters like you learn all the details. We’ll share dates soon.

Thanks for your interest in what’s “growing” here at Manna Food Center and for supporting our work across the county to waste less and feed more. 
Sincerely,
‌
Heroes Against Hunger Shine
in Montgomery County
Manna Food Center’s annual Heroes Against Hunger Awards Reception, presented by Giant, recognizes community champions in the fight against hunger. The award winners, nominated by the community and selected by Manna’s volunteer Board of Directors demonstrate a true passion for advancing solutions to hunger and feeding hope in Montgomery County.

This year we had the pleasure of honoring The Community Foundation in Montgomery County (Community Hero of the Year), Adventist Healthcare (Corporate Hero of the Year), and Jeff Miller (Individual Hero of the Year). The reception was held at the new Canopy by Hilton in Pike and Rose on a gorgeous Thursday evening and featured delicious hors d’oeuvres, a vibrant silent auction with moving messages from our honorees. 

We are so grateful for our community’s support of the event and are looking forward to next year. Funds raised from the event support Manna’s mission to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. This support directly impacts those who are experiencing food insecurity throughout the county -- 31,710 neighbors in need received food and nutrition education last year. Manna provides our neighbors supplemental food throughout the year to help free up money in their budgets. Manna also provides weekend bags to more than 2,900 elementary school students each week during the school year through our Smart Sacks program. 

Check out our Flickr album for more photos from the evening.
Manny is on the Move!
Manny, our mobile kitchen and pop-up pantry, has been up-and-running since mid-March! We have been on the road partnering with schools, farms, and apartment complexes all over Montgomery County.

We have first-time partners too! Most notably, we were able to teach the entire 3 rd grade at Sally K. Ride Elementary School in Germantown. We made roasted cauliflower (a class favorite!) and we are working on an agreement with the school to serve their students once a month during the next school year.

If you are interested in bringing Manny, the Mobile Kitchen to your school please reach out to our Program Manager, Cynthia Wilson (cynthia@mannafood.org) .
Manna connected with Wells Robertson House at the City of Gaithersburg Coalition meeting during the winter. Wells Robertson held presentations with two other groups to highlight the issue of addiction and the services available to those struggling with addiction in our community. After the meeting we partnered to provide both Nutrition Education (Community Health Workshops) and one Manny Mobile Kitchen Class in the spring to 14 participants that currently live at Wells Robertson House. We were able to discuss the effects of too much sugar on the body, how to discern truthful health information at the grocery store and what to purchase to maximize your budget. We finished this series with a class that taught the group how to incorporate lean proteins, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables into a daily meal. The group had a positive response to the entire experience, asked many questions, and Wells Robertson looks forward to continuing our partnership. 
 
Another new Manny partnership is with Red Wiggers Farm (a partner in our Farm to Food Bank program). We featured their produce in our recipe (Egg Cups) that we taught on the bus. Our class with the growers was really fun! We hope to be back over the summer for one of their farm festival events. 
5 Millionth Pound Recovered
through Community Food Rescue Network!
It’s official! This spring, Community Food Rescue (CFR) rescued and distributed our five millionth pound of food, the equivalent of 4.1 million meals to people who are experiencing hunger. In addition, CFR food recipient organizations that have surplus food that they cannot use have also used our ChowMatch app to redistribute the food to other CFR network members. An additional 59,433 lbs. of food (representing 50,000 meals) has been redistributed to people who are food insecure.

Healthy Fats
Last month, our dietetic intern Laura shared information on cholesterol and fats. "Limiting fat is often the first thing that comes to mind when people think of a heart-healthy diet. However, not all fat is detrimental. Fat comes in three primary forms: saturated, unsaturated, and trans fat."

Here are some tips from Program Manger Cynthia Wilson on how to add more healthy fats into your meal:

  1. Add it into your smoothies. Ex: Adding avocado to your smoothie can make it creamer and boost the fat content. Also, adding flax seeds can add some healthy fats to your smoothie.
  2. Putting it on top of a salad or bowl meal. Ex: Add guacamole into your salad.
  3. Eat it as your main course. Ex: Have salmon for a meal and add additional fat by cooking it in coconut oil and serving with an aeoli.
  4. Cook with your fat. Ex: Cook with coconut oil, avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, and other oils to boost the fat of your food. Be careful about what oils you cook with. Some oils start to breakdown under certain temperatures. Ex: Extra virgin olive oil is not an oil that should be used at high heats where avocado and coconut oil can.
  5. Use healthier fats as a substitute for other cooking ingredients. Ex: For tuna fish instead of using mayo use avocado. 

Bon appétit!
Recipe Spotlight
Avocados are known for their ability to take on other flavors as well as providing our bodies with a number of nutrients. Avocados are full of the “good” fats, including omega 3 fatty acids, which can help raise HDL and good cholesterol. They are full of vitamins C, E, K, B6, B2, B3, B9, B5, magnesium, and potassium. Because fat is so essential for every cell in our bodies, they are a very necessary part of our diets and avocados can help with that. They can support skin health, slow the breakdown of carbohydrates to help keep sugar levels in the blood stable, enhance the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients and can help boost the immune system. 
Guacamole Deviled Eggs

Ingredients:

  • 6 hard-boiled Eggs, peeled and halved
  • 1 ripe Avocado
  • ÂĽ red Onion, minced
  • ½ Jalapeno, minced
  • 1 tbsp. finely chopped Cilatro
  • Juice of 1 Lime
  • ½ tsp Garlic powder
  • ½ tsp Paprika
  • Salt
  • Pepper


Directions
  1. Scoop yolks from egg whites and add to a large bowl with avocado. Mash with a fork until evenly combined, then add onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice and stir until combined.
  2. Season with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
  3. Using a spoon or a piping bag, add avocado mixture to egg whites. Garnish with a pinch of paprika before serving.
New Faces at Manna!
You'll see new faces working in our office and warehouse! Say welcome to these great folks working to end hunger in Montgomery County!
Our Distribution Sites Are Changing on April 23!
Please Share With Networks!
Starting Tuesday, April 23, 2019  Manna will be opening a new distribution site at Gaithersburg Middle School. This site will replace our daily distribution at Manna’s Gaithersburg warehouse. 

New Distribution Site:
Tuesdays & Thursdays 4pm to 7pm
Gaithersburg Middle School
2 Teachers Way, Room 200
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Available Volunteer Opportunities 
NOTE: Due to the nature of our operations and upcoming renovations, we have a limited number of volunteer spaces available for the next few months.
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 16 years of age of older. This opportunity is approved for SSL hours.  Click for more information.
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 a plus!  
 
Shifts Currently Available: Day, Evening, or Floater (shift varies based on need)
 
Second Saturday of the Month, 10am-2pm (monthly commitment)
Email  Katie  (katie@mannafood.org) for more information.
Satellite Distribution Centers
Volunteers needed to help distribute prepacked boxes, assist clients to their car, and take in food donations. 

Wednesdays 3pm-7pm
Clifton Park Baptist Church (formerly Long Branch Satellite)

Fridays 1pm-4pm
East County Regional Service Center 
 
Must be 16 years of age of older.   This opportunity is approved for SSL hours.  Click for more information.
Food Runner
Join Community Food Rescue (CFR), Montgomery County's network for food recovery. Help deliver rescued food to area shelters.
 
Learn how you can help feed more and waste less at  communityfoodrescue.org .
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 January 16, 2019 - March 15, 2019.

Without your incredible generosity, we would not be able to feed families in our community. 
Adventist HealthCare
Amity Club of Washington Charity Foundation, Inc.
Anytime Fitness
APA Inc.
Architectural Ceramics
Armour Giving Fund
Aspen Hill Christian Church
AT&T Government Solutions
Baltimore Symphony Musicians
Bargain Movers
Bethesda Co-Op
Bethesda Friends Meeting
Bethesda Presbyterian Church
B'nai Israel Congregation
Box Associates Limited Partnership
Bullis School
Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church
Capital Area Food Bank
Capital Bank
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
Central Apartments
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
Chazin & Company
Chesapeake Counseling Associates
Children of the Light, LLC
Chinmaya Mission Washington Regional Center
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
CHSBB
Church of The Redeemer
Cigna
City of Gaithersburg
City of Rockville
Clark Construction Group, LLC
Clarksburg Chamber of Commerce
Clinton AME Zion Church
Cloverly E.S.
ClubCorp, Inc.
Colesville Presbyterian Church
Damone Family Foundation
DC Metro Sai Samsthan
DC Metronomes (Hallmark Club)
DecisionPath Consulting
Dr. Martin Luther King M.S.
Earle B. Wood M.S.
Elberta Logistics International
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
The Emmes Corporation
Enterprise Rent A Car
Express One Logistics
Fairfax Korean Church
Faith United Methodist Church
FINRA
Forest Knolls E.S.
Gaithersburg Chapter #5358 of AARP
Garden Club of College Gardens
Garrett Park E.S.
Giant
Giant Food
Girl Scout Troop #4976
Girl Scout Troop #784
Great American Restaurants
Greater Washington Community Foundation
Greek Orthodox Church of St. George
Harris Teeter
Heraeus Noblelight America LLC
Hermon Presbyterian Church
Homecrest House, B'Nai B'rith
Huffman Family Charitable Fund
Hut Family Fund
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Ira & MaryJo Sherman Family Foundation
Judith A. Resnick E.S.
Julius West M.S.
KidsCo Inc.
Larry E. Paul Certified Financial Planner
Legal & General America
Lester Poretsky Family Foundation
Living Faith Lutheran Church
Lutheran Church of St. Andrew
Matan Companies
MC Pre-Trial Services
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
MICA Potomac Chapter
Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Council
Montgomery Knolls E.S.
MRI Global
Newmark & Company Real Estate Inc.
Newmark Knight and Frank
Norwood School
Olney Help
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Penzey Spice Company
Pittsburgh Foundation
Pittsburgh Symphony Members Association
Primary Care Coalition Of Montgomery County, MD, Inc.
QN Nails
Redland Baptist Church
Republican Women's Republican Club
Response Tech
Rock Terrace E.S.
Rockville H.S.
Rockville Presbyterian Church
Roger and Katherine Feinthel Charitable Fund
Roots
Rosemont E.S.
Rosenberg Media
Rossmoor Ceramic Crafters
RSV Pools
Safeway
Saint Mark Presbyterian Church
Salesforce.org
Seven Locks E.S.
Shady Grove Eye & Vision Care
Share Our Strength
Shepherd's Table
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church
Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.
Sodexo Inc. & Affiliates
Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, Inc
SourceAmerica
St. James Episcopal Church
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Starbucks
State of Maryland
Suburban Hospital
Sweat Shop Fitness
Tathagata Dharma Association Inc.
TD Charitable Foundation
Temple Emanuel
The Meil Family Foundation
The Naimon Family Charitable Giving Fund
The Universities at Shady Grove
Thomas W. Pyle M.S.
Trader Joe's
True Buddha Temple Maryland
Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville
UnitedHealthCare
Unity Christ Church of Gaithersburg
Village of Martin's Additions
Voortman Cookies
Wegmans
Westat
Wheaton H.S.
Whetstone E.S.
Whole Foods Market
Woman's Democratic Club of Montgomery County
Woodley Garden Club

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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Manna Food Center | 2019