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Dear Friend of Manna,

To help celebrate National Farmers Market Week , I could sing the praises of our farmer partners and market managers, who make sure that every weekend during the growing season, Manna receives tasty, healthy food purchased at discounted prices thanks to Farm to Food Bank or recovered through Community Food Rescue .   Or, I could talk about how important fresh produce i s especially for the children and seniors we serve.   But my take this year is on the community building aspect of farmers markets.

Many Sundays I walk over to Manna partner, Central Farmers Market , because it is close to my place of worship.  My heart gets really full to see the bustling of vendors and customers, dog walkers and stroller pushers, and, most especially the Manna volunteers soliciting donations to help us pay farmers.  Each weekend students in search of service learning hours sign up for booth duty, explaining what Manna is and how donations help us feed our neighbors. Sometimes, just for fun, I act like a mystery shopper and pretend that I don't know anything about Manna.  It is a treat to hear how the kids describe our mission and request support.  We have some pretty cute and clever kids in Montgomery County.

Yes, farmers markets deserve celebration because they help fuel the local agriculture economy and increase access to a range of food.  And, they are community builders.  They provide a time and space for connection .  I often hear farmers calling regular customers by name and neighbors sharing news of the week.  For the young volunteers, markets provide an opportunity for service and skill building.  Instead of sleeping in late on the weekends, the kids are challenged to speak persuasively and politely to strangers, to put the needs of others first, and to be part of the broader community.

For all of these reasons, on behalf of all of us at Manna, we encourage you to shop at your local farmers market--and those of you who use Food Stamps check out this list of markets that accept SNAP --to not only purchase great food and help small businesses, but to support community connections across our great county.

Have a great August,    Jackie
Summer Food Drive: This Weekend!
Giant Food Drive Aug 15  
In terms of canned goods & pantry staples, summer is a lean time at Manna.  We need your to help to volunteer & shop in support of Manna's critical Summer Food Drive this weekend, August 5th and 6th at all Montgomery County Giant food stores.  

WHEN: Saturday August 5th & Sunday August 6th
TIME: Donations accepted all day, both days.  Volunteer shift from 10am-2pm
WHERE: All Giant stores throughout Montgomery County
WHAT: Volunteers will help promote the food drive at Giant food stores &
 collect food donations from generous customers like you!

We are in particular need of volunteers on Sunday  at stores in the following areas:
Aspen Hill
Shady Grove
Bethesda- Westwood
 Silver Spring- Blair Park 
Burtonsville
 Wheaton
Chevy Chase
 White Oak 
Colesville
 . . . and more 

 
We greatly appreciate you taking the time to volunteer and planning to shop this weekend to help stock Manna's shelves and support our neighbors at risk of hunger in Montgomery County.   
  Questions? Contact  Mardia
 





























Lindsey's Blog

On Lindsey's fourth 'Mannaversary', our Program Manager of Nutrition Education reflects on how the program has evolved in four years, and what continues to surprises her most. 


"Lindsey here. For four years I've worked in Nutrition Education at Manna. It's also how long, before that, I applied for job after job, competing with more experienced colleagues who lost their careers in the Recession.   My role here is rooted in the community; I'm on-the-go to schools, senior apartments, and community centers most days of the week. My classes have grandmothers and grandchildren, veterans and students-I receive both stories and hugs"  Read More ...ยป
MCMF Helps Close the Hunger Gap

In our affluent community, hunger is an ever present issue. The Montgomery County Muslim Foundation (MCMF) is committed to help needy families across our community in many ways. In support of its mission, MCMF, under the leadership of Mr. Tufail Ahmad (Chairman) and in collaboration with Manna Food Center and Giant Stores, organized a food drive on April 29-30.
 
About 100 volunteers from diverse backgrounds participated and collected more than 11,000 lbs of non-perishable food items that were subsequently donated to Manna Food Center. 
 
On July 8th MCMF held its Annual Community Cookout at the Black Hill Regional Park, attended by several hundred people. This gathering was designed to thank and appreciate the volunteers whose efforts were essential to the food drive and all of MCMF's work throughout the year. Volunteers were awarded Certificates of Appreciation for their service. A number of public officials attended the event including County Executive Ike Leggett and Councilmembers Roger Berliner, George Leventhal, Nancy Floreen and Marc Elrich.
 
County Executive Ike Leggett commended MCMF for all its charitable, as well as interfaith, activities that are making our county a better place for everyone to call home.  George Leventhal said that MCMF exemplifies the Muslim principles of Charity as well as Good deeds and remarked that he deeply appreciates MCMF's participation in Montgomery County's vigorous charitable enterprise.  Similar sentiments were expressed by Roger Berliner, Marc Elrich and Nancy Floreen.
 
Article Submitted by Anwar Hashmi, MCMF
Smart Sacks Partner Spotlight!

Distribution Moves Inside






Manna has reached a new milestone in its research and program evaluation project called 
the 4Ps! Working with a consulting team we asked: are we serving the right PEOPLE in the right 
PLACES with the right PRODUCT through the right PARTNERSHIPS?

We identified 20 priority census tracts for intervention. We also evaluated our current distribution locations, each site receiving a recommendation to be maintained, modified, or closed. 
Sites to be closed no longer need our service, serve too few individuals to justify the cost, and/or are located near other options. 

Upcoming actions: Three monthly dropoffs and a weekly satellite distribution will end by July 31 
(Manna offers several nearby alternatives);   On June 27, Manna moved its Tuesday satellite  inside  at Glenmont United  Methodist Church.  

These changes create opportunities for even greater impact in Montgomery County.

   
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 May 16, 2017 - July 15, 2017. 

Without your generosity, we would not be able to feed families in our community. 
AARP
Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC
Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation
Adventist Health Care
Agency for Helathcare Research and Quality
Alfred D. Noyes Children's Center
Alice Shaver Foundation
Am Kolel Sanctuary and Renewal Center
Asbury Communities
Association of Government Accountants
Avendra
Bethany Presbyterian Church
Bethesda Central Farmers' Market
Bethesda Co-Op
Box Associates Limited Partnership
Boyds Presbyterian
Bullis School
Burness Communications
Cabin John M.S.
Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Capital Area Food Bank
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
Charles E. Smith Life Communities
CHEER
Chop't Creative Salad Co. LLC
Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
Church of The Redeemer
City of Gaithersburg
City of Rockville
Colesville Presbyterian Church
Color Me Mine Rockville
Congregation Or Chadash
DC Metro Sai Samsthan
Emergency Medicine Associates
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
First Baptist Church of Rockville
First Fruits Farm
Gaithersburg Animal Hospital
Giant Food
Girl Scout Troop #1357
Harmony Hills Elementary School
Harris Teeter
Healthcare Initiative Foundation
HMS Host Corporation
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
Impact Blue U13 Soccer
Jewish War Vet. Ladies Aux.
Journey's Crossing Congregation
Julia Bindeman Suburban Center
Julius West Middle School
JustGive.org
Kadia's Kitchen LLC
Kaiser Permanente
Larry E. Paul Certified Financial Planner
Leidos
Leisure World (Overlook)
Little White Chapel by the Wayside, Inc.
Living Faith Lutheran Church
Long & Foster Real Estate
Lutheran Church of St. Andrew
Luxmanor E.S
Macy's/Bloomingdale's
MCPS Nutrition Services
Mead Family Foundation
Medstar Montgomery Medical Center
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Employees FCU
Montgomery County Master Gardeners
Montgomery Village Rotary Club Foundation Inc.
Morgan Stanley
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
Music For Food
National Council of Jewish Women
New Bethel Baptist Church
Norman's Farm Markets
Northwest High School
Norwood School
Olney Farmers & Artists' Market
One Acre Farm
Otsuka America Pharmeceutical, Inc.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
Penzey Spice Company
Pilgrim United Church of Christ
Posner-Wallace Foundation
Response Tech
Restoration Church of Maryland
Richard Montgomery High School
Rockville Farmers' Market
Roots
Safeway
Saint Mark Presbyterian Church
Sandy Spring Bank
Sandy Spring Friends School
Seven Locks Baptist Church
Sheldor Charitable Fund
Sidney Katz
Silver Spring Day School
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church
Sodexo Foundation
Sodexo Inc. & Affiliates
St. Jude's Leisure Club
State of Maryland
Stedwick Elementary School
Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-Op
TD Charitable Foundation
The Adventure Park
The Bargain Box Thrift & Consignment Shop
The Cleaning Authority
The Moshman Charitable Fdn., Inc.,
Tikvat Israel Congregation
Trader Joe's
Travilah E.S
True Buddha Temple Maryland
Twinbrook Baptist Church
UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO
Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville
United Way of Rhode Island
United Way of South Hampton Roads
USPS
Vantage Point East, Leisure World
Vedanta Center of Greater Washington DC
Village of Martin's Additions
Voortman Cookies
Walt Whitman High School
Washington Sikh Center
Wegmans
White Oak M.S.
Whole Foods Market
Woodley Garden Club
Yoga Bliss Studios
Your Chef's Table Farm

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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