February 2022 Open House

In February 2022 we are opening a new application cycle for formal partnership with MANNA FoodBank. The first step to process is to attend the MANNA FoodBank Open House this February. The Open House is open to anyone in the community who wants to learn more about MANNA, hunger in our community, and how to get involved. Before attending the Open House, we encourage you to take a look at our Partner Agency Values and Client Centric Values. After attending the Open House, your organization will have one week to complete the Partner Agency Fit Quiz to be invited to apply.

Two virtual Open House events will be held on February 7th and 8th, from 2-4PM.

Click HERE to sign up for the February 2022 Open House!

Basic requirements for formal partnership require a 501(c)3 or tax-exempt Church Status, an active food program, and serving the “ill, needy, or children” per IRS code 107e3.

When reviewing applications, the Agency Relations team will be looking to partner with organizations or churches with the following criteria:

1. Food pantry and meal programs that are open to the public, with preference given to programs open at least two times per month and allow clients to choose their own food (client choice)

2. Minimum of 6 months experience in program management and oversight

3. Programs targeting underserved areas or populations in MANNA’s 16 county service area, or programs that run innovative feeding programs geared toward connecting at-risk populations with nutritious food

4. Programs committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion

If you have further questions about signing up for the Open House, please contact the Agency Relation Manager for your zone.

Amy Grimes– Agency Relations Manager – West & Compliance
(Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain)
asims@mannafoodbank.org

Kristen Ollila – Agency Relations Manager – East
(Avery, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Transylvania and Yancey)
kollila@mannafoodbank.org

Leah Weidner – Agency Relations Manager – Buncombe
lcormier@mannafoodbank.org

Partner Application Process

MANNA Community Markets (MCM Page)

MANNA Community Markets deliver free food to communities across Western North Carolina. In partnership with community organizations, the MANNA Community Market provides direct food assistance support for people across the region, particularly focusing on communities with a high level of food insecurity.

The MANNA Helpline (Helpline Page)

Would you like more information about Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps)? Need help finding food assistance near you? FNS may be able to help make nutritious food more affordable for your family. Call the MANNA Food Helpline at 1-800-820-1109. The Helpline is available from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

MANNA Partner Agencies (Partner Agency Page)

While our partners are usually listed by county in our Food Finder tool, we are currently using a list that is updated daily in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Please see a list of current distributions here.

MANNA FoodBank as well as all of our partners throughout 16 counties are a part of the Feeding America network – the largest domestic hunger relief organization in the country. The common mission is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger. We aim for collaboration to provide excellent service with respect, integrity and urgency while being mindful and inclusive of our diverse population. We take our stewardship of donated food and money seriously and strive for transparency and accountability.

Feeding America provides a framework of best practices and a network of collaboration that enables food banks – that’s MANNA – to gather, store and distribute food to partner agencies. Those invaluable partners are the outlets that actually interact with the general public. Our partners are mostly donation funded and volunteer run; they provide much of the labor that gets food to the tables of families that need it most.

Benefits of Partnership Include:

  • access to food donated to Feeding America affiliates
  • mobile delivery of food to 15 of the 16 counties in our service area (Buncombe excepted)
  • online ordering
  • access to our Cooperative Buying Program (CBP)

Basic Requirements of MANNA Partner Agencies:

  • 501(c)3 status
  • Partner Agency Agreement
  • Orientation for partner agencies
  • Proof of an approved pest control plan
  • A recent financial/treasurer’s report showing agency budget
  • A current List of your Board of Directors/officers/or other governing body
  • Food Safety Training
    • Food safety plan including temperature logs

Click Here to learn about becoming a 501(c)3.

If you are interested in becoming a partner agency, watch the video below for a quick overview of the process.

MANNA aims to serve those in need of food. Some areas of Western North Carolina have more pantries and meal providers than others. Since we do not have an unlimited amount of food, we encourage and prioritize new agencies that will serve currently underserved populations. For some food insecure families, finding a box of food can mean a real challenge when transportation and money for fuel is not readily available. We encourage those inspired to work in hunger relief to check out the pantries and feeding programs that may already be active in your area before taking steps to become an independent partner agency.

When signing on as a partner agency, you will be required to complete MANNA’s Partner Agency Agreement as well.
MANNA Partner Agreement 2020

Thank you for joining in the work to end hunger in WNC.