Ending Hunger in Western North Carolina
Food Distribution
MANNA collects, stores, warehouses, and distributes food to dedicated, accredited nonprofit partners throughout 16 counties in Western North Carolina. In 2019-2020, MANNA and the MANNA Partner Agency Network distributed over 21.5 million lbs. of food to families across WNC.
Where Does the Food Come From?
MANNA relies on the food industry, the state and federal government, as well as local corporate and individual donors, for sourcing the food that is then passed into the hands of our WNC neighbors.
Most of the food MANNA receives is donated; other food sources include partnerships with the federal and state government, local farmers, food drives, and food that we purchase on second markets in bulk.
This food is sorted and culled by thousands of MANNA volunteers, and then delivered to hundreds of partners across the region, the MANNA Partner Agency Network. These agencies include pantries, soup kitchens, emergency food suppliers, faith-based organizations, and other nonprofits who provide this food directly to members of their community. As the need in our region has continued to grow, so has the amount of food that goes through our warehouse and to the tables of the people who need it most. MANNA regularly provides emergency food support to more than 100,000 people every year through these food distribution efforts.
MANNA also works to build and deepen relationships with local and national produce donors rescue produce that might otherwise be thrown away. Our efforts to provide more fresh produce has resulted in millions of pounds of perfectly good food redirected from the landfill to fill families’ plates instead.
Where Does the Food Go?
MANNA distributes food throughout WNC through a partner network of more than 200 agencies in 16 counties including the Qualla Boundary.
We work through a network of partner agencies that distributes the food directly to families in their community according to their individual programs. MANNA provides direct service on a limited basis to those struggling with hunger through our Feeding Kids Year Round Program, which provides MANNA Packs and Summer Packs, and our MANNA Food Helpline, which provides support for people signing up for Food and Nutrition Services (FNS, formerly known as food stamps), or needing access to a food distribution location in their area.
Food Access Programs
Feeding Children Year Round: MANNA Packs and Summer Packs for Kids
Working families are struggling to regain their foothold in this post-recession economy. Western North Carolina families and residents face a socio-economic “perfect storm”: housing costs around the greater Asheville area are the highest in the state, forcing people to live in more rural areas; our region’s economy is driven largely by lower-paying service and seasonal employment; transportation challenges in and around rural, remote communities, forcing people to drive long distances to secure employment; and skyrocketing child and healthcare costs placing tremendous strain on working families. Despite their best efforts, many families can’t afford all the food their children need for healthy, normal development. 1 in 4 children in our service area don’t have access to three square meals a day.
The MANNA Packs for Kids program provides emergency food assistance to public school students throughout all 16 counties in our service area who receive free school meals. MANNA works closely with WNC schools to identify at-risk student populations. In the 2019/2020 fiscal year, MANNA provided 116,555 weekend packs to children across WNC.
FNS Outreach
For many individuals and families throughout Western North Carolina, every dollar counts. Food and Nutrition Services (FNS, formerly known as “food stamps”) is an important resource helping to put food on the table. FNS is an assistance program that allows people with little or no income to buy nutritious food. It can help a family survive a crisis of employment, poor health, or other hardships that can trigger a downward spiral into poverty, and is the most effective program for helping families escape poverty. In 2019/2020, MANNA’s outreach efforts assisted 2,241 households with FNS applications.
The program also helps strengthen the local economy and boost jobs in the farm and retail sectors and beyond. It is estimated that each $5 of FNS benefits can generate up to $9 in economic activity.
MANNA Food Helpline
The Helpline is a virtual call center for assistance with Food and Nutrition Services applications and re-certifications over the phone. The Helpline is operated by staff and trained volunteers, and designed to help people navigate the process of applying for Food and Nutrition Services benefits. This innovative direct service program is especially targeted at seniors and working families trying to make ends meet on a limited budget.