Two smiling volunteers help distribute food at the Newbridge Community Market.

FRESH NEWS August 2024

Monthly News from MANNA FoodBank

IN THIS ISSUE:

SETTING THE TABLE

Help us ensure our neighbors' plates are full this coming season.

10 YEARS OF BUNCOMBE CEMs We recently came together to celebrate our powerful partnership with Buncombe County.

MOUNTAIN STATE FAIR

MANNA Day at the Mountain State Fair is coming up soon!

And don't miss:

Did You Know...
Recognitions + Gratitude
2024 VA Food Drive

Empty Bowls 2024 SAVE THE DATE: Monday, October 14

SAVE THE DATE for MANNA’s 23rd Annual Empty Bowls on Monday, October 14, 10am-5pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton Asheville-Biltmore. Tickets will go on sale at 10am on September 3.

We are also actively seeking potters and ceramic artists to be a part of the Empty Bowls donor community. Are you a potter (or know someone who is) that would like to contribute a bowl or other functional or artistic piece for this year’s event? Every bowl donated = 200 meals for neighbors across WNC!

Please contact events@mannafoodbank.org for more details.

Setting the Table: Ensuring Enough Food for Every Plate

Imagine a table, not just any table, but one that extends far beyond the walls of any home. It stretches across our 16-county service area and the Qualla Boundary, reaching out to our neighbors, friends, and countless others. This is the table of community, compassion, and care — a table where there is a place for everyone and food for all.

At MANNA FoodBank, we believe in the power of this table, and we see the incredible difference it makes. Every day, individuals and families come to us, each with their own story of their unique lived experiences that have brought them to our door. The ever-widening gap between the cost of living and income across our beautiful region has pushed many to the brink, and the need for assistance has reached record levels. To put that in perspective, as we reflect upon our 23/24 fiscal year that closed on June 30th, we are serving an average of 158,000+ every month which is an astounding historical increase with no end in sight.

A neighbor places fresh produce in their basket while at a MANNA community market.

As a result, we continue to find it necessary to purchase more food than ever to meet the growing need. Simultaneously, our incredible Food Sourcing Team is working extremely hard daily to continue to increase the amount of donated food that we receive by growing our relationships with large and small retail stores, local and regional farmers and alongside our sister food banks to trade and share one another’s produce supplies.

Our unwavering efforts to secure more donated food will continue, however, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. As we intensify our search for donated food, we must rely upon the kindness and compassion of our close friends like you to help fill plates today, tomorrow, and next week.

Even amidst these unprecedented challenges, here is the truth that empowers us: Hunger is a problem we can solve together. Your generosity transforms into meals for working families trying desperately to make ends meet, and for the senior who has given a lifetime of hard work yet cannot stretch their fixed income to cover both utilities and groceries.

Together, we can ensure that no one is turned away from the table, that every plate is full, and that hope is served in generous portions.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Your MANNA Family

MANNA Day at Mountain State Fair

Wednesday, September 11

On Wednesday, September 11, bring 5 cans of food as a donation to MANNA FoodBank and get free admission (1 ticket) into the Mountain State Fair!

Thank you to our sponsor, Sheetz, and our host, the Mountain State Fair!

Learn More Here

RECOGNITIONS + GRATITUDE

10 Years of Community Engagement Markets A Partnership between MANNA and Buncombe County

A round of applause as MANNA celebrates 10 amazing years of working with Buncombe County through our Community Engagement Markets (CEMs)! This partnership has been a vital lifeline, especially during tough economic times, providing essential food resources to our neighbors in need.

In just the past year alone (July 2023 to June 2024), the CEMs have made a huge impact:

226 markets held
1,682 hours served by volunteer community connectors
8,387 households served
20,947 individuals served
422,384 pounds of food distributed, including 100,675 pounds of produce

These numbers reflect the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. Together, we’ve bridged the gap between resources and the community, creating a strong support system.

As we celebrate this milestone, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to the volunteers, donors, and community connectors who have dedicated their time and resources. Your unwavering support is the backbone of this initiative. Together, we’ll continue to fight hunger and foster a healthier, more resilient WNC!

Hear the impactful stories of our CEM partners and volunteers by watching this video:

Feds Feed Families: VA Food Drive

The VA Food Drive ran through the month of July. In a little bit of healthy competition, the Western North Carolina VA Health Care System based in Asheville and Mountain Home VA Medical Center based in Johnson City, Tennessee competed to see who could bring in the most food.

On August 1, we brought our truck over the Medical Center and loaded it not once, not twice, but three times with food that the VA team collected! In total 32,313 lbs were collected and able to immediately start making an impact in our community. This year they beat their Johnson City counterparts by 9,000 lbs!

Thank You To Those Contributing To Our Mission in July:

We'd like to thank the following Foundations for their support of our food distribution efforts:

United Way of Haywood County

We'd like to thank the following Corporate Sponsors for their generous contributions:

Specialty Metal Supply
Wildlands Engineering
Sheetz
GE Aerospace

We'd like to thank the following Local Food Donors for going above and beyond in their efforts:

Lipman Produce
Flavor 1st
Ingles Markets
Ingles Markets Reclaim Center
Paul Collins

We'd like to thank the following Retail Food Donors for their collective efforts:

Aldi
Bimbo Bakeries
Dollar General
Food Lion
Publix
Sam's Club
Trader Joes
Wal-Mart
Whole Foods

We'd like to thank Ingles Markets for their support through the Ingles Reclaim Center:

Thank you, Ingles Markets, for partnering with us in our efforts to end hunger in WNC!

Did You Know...

Tax-Advantaged QCDs

A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a way to get tax advantages for your charitable contributions. QCDs can be made from various types of IRAs, but not directly from a 401(k) plan. However, if you roll over your 401(k) into an IRA, you can then make QCDs from that account. Because the gift goes directly to the charity without passing through your hands, the dollar amount of the gift may be excluded from your taxable income.

You can also leave MANNA in your estate by making us the beneficiary of a retirement account, insurance policy or annuity. Details to be included: MANNA FoodBank, Inc. in Asheville, NC, Tax Identification Number 58-1514800.

If you would like to learn more about alternative ways to give, please contact Director of Philanthropic Engagement, Chad Conaty at 828-774-5910 or via email at cconaty@mannafoodbank.org.

We Are Hiring!

Come join a team dedicated to ending hunger in WNC! We are currently hiring for a Local Foods Outreach Manager, Order Picker/Material Handler, and a Warehouse Associate.

Please help spread the word to your network.