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Listening to Our Partners: Key Takeaways
Over the last three months, MANNA’s leadership team held 17 listening sessions with more than 80 of our partner leaders. Our goal was to understand the challenges more deeply they see every day in their communities. Five common themes came up over and over:
1. Need is at an All-Time High
While demand was already unprecedented, it soared even higher after Helene. Many partners say they are serving more people than they ever imagined—neighbors who have never needed food assistance before are reaching out for help.
2. Protein is the Top Priority
Across nearly every county, families are asking for meat, cheese, and eggs more than anything else. These foods are not just filling; they are nutritionally critical, and the shortage is felt by both neighbors and agencies.
3. Transportation is the Biggest Barrier
Getting to the food is not always simple, especially when gas is expensive or public transit is nearly nonexistent in rural areas. This has prompted many partners to start exploring creative delivery models or setting up new distribution spots closer to where people live and work.
4. Temporary Surge in Support
Right after Helene, donations and volunteers flooded in. It was amazing while it lasted, but that support has tapered off, leaving many of our agencies struggling to keep up the growing need for food in their communities.
5. A Push for Regional Collaboration
There’s a real buzz about setting up bigger, better resource hubs where in times of crisis our partners in neighboring counties could gather to share resources. People want to be better prepared if another disaster hits, which means sharing resources, knowledge, and a common plan so we can respond even faster and more effectively next time.
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