Notes from the Executive Director
city_fireworks_celebration.jpg
Dear Manna supporter,

As a big goal setter, I am the kind of person who loves New Year's because I appreciate the chance to pause and make resolutions while also taking stock of progress on commitments made.  Yet at the same time, I am not much of a party-person and am regularly asleep way before midnight.  It has been awhile since I have seen the famed ball drop or toasted the arrival of the New Year.  This paradox is similar to where Manna Food Center finds itself-we live in a county with tremendous assets-diverse people, a vibrant mix of urban and rural communities, and policies and programs that work to share prosperity and opportunity broadly.  Yet, at the same time, approximately 78,000 of our neighbors are not always sure where their next meal is coming from in the year 2016.

The staff and Board of Manna embrace the challenge of such contradictions, hopeful that together we will find solutions to complicated issues.  This is not unwarranted optimism borne out of too many holiday treats, but it is a vision grounded in our commitment to tested approaches and fresh ideas.

Manna has a lot of plans for 2016, including leading the Community Food Rescue network, accelerating our efforts to reach food insecure school children through the Goldberg Smart Sacks program, and breaking bread within the community.  We are especially eager to embark on a 3 year strategic planning process that will involve you.

Please click here to read more about these plans on the Manna blog, and continue to reach out to me personally if I can be of service as we work together to fight hunger and feed hope in this great, if complicated, county of ours. And, of course,

Happy 2016 to you and yours,
 
Jackie DeCarlo
Executive Director
240.268.2524

Volunteer for the MLK Food Drive
Oct 2015 food drive The Giant Food Drives are back and we need your support!  Help collect food at Montgomery County Giant Grocery Stores over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend!  
 
Gather family, friends, clubs, work teams, scouting groups, faith-based groups, sports teams, etc. to help your neighbors in need and honor the service of Dr. King.
 
Saturday and Sunday, January 16th & 17th
11am - 2pm, AM Shift
2pm - 5pm, PM Shift
11am - 5pm, Full Day Shift
 
 
We will send you an email confirming availability for your preferred store, date, and time. 
 
Please note: This volunteer opportunity requires a firm commitment due to the limited number of volunteer spaces available for each shift.  Please double check your calendar to confirm your availability prior to registering.   
 
Due to limited space at the stores, Giant requests that we limit the number of volunteers, at any one time, to a maximum of 5 (including the adult supervisor).  At least one adult supervisor (21 or older) needs to be present at all times.  Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.  We typically assign one Giant store to a family or group but two smaller groups may be assigned together.   
 
Questions? Contact Katie at [email protected].
Manna Blog
01-06-2016 15:22:32 PM manna blog

Lindsey here. Despite all the responsibilities, I find the peace of being an adult some days is being alright with not having All The Answers. Nutrition research evolves constantly; scientific reports pop into the headlines about what not to eat this week, confusing the public.  The role of Manna's Nutrition Educator implies a vast knowledge Read More > The post Listen Up: A New Year's Challenge appeared first on Manna Food Center. ...�

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
Distro Vol Feb 2015
Food Distribution
Volunteers help, Mon-Fri from 9am-3pm, pack and sort food, bag produce and meat, assist clients to their car, and take in food donations. 
Must be 17 years of age of older.  This opportunity is approved for SSL.
referral office
Client Services Representative
Help log referrals by phone, fax and email in to our database.  Volunteers must be able to make a weekly commitment for a minimum of 6 months.
Current Available Shift:
Thursdays, 4-7pm
 
English/Spanish bi-lingual skills are a plus; however not required.
Email Marie at
 [email protected] 
for more information.
CFR
Food Runner
Join Community Food Rescue (CFR), Montgomery County's network for food recovery. Help deliver rescued food to area shelters.
Click here to learn how you can help feed more and waste less.
Community Food Rescue Blog
12-23-2015 17:09:26 PM
TF Caterers CFR
TF caterers donate delicious fare after The Community Foundation's fundraiser gala.

The Community Foundation of the National Capital Region is a community of givers. Its mission is to strengthen the Washington metropolitan region by encouraging and supporting effective giving and by providing leadership on critical issues in our community. So it was not surprising that Anna Hargrave, Executive Director of the Montgomery County Office, wanted to ... Continue reading A Gala Fundraiser that Gives Back to Community →...�

Winter Weather at Manna
winter sceneWith the cold weather finally here; snow may follow soon!  Snow days bring a sense of wonder and excitement, as well as commuting and logistical challenges.    

As a reminder, Manna follows Montgomery County Government (not the schools) regarding closures and delays.  Manna posts announcements on our Facebook and Twitter sites and website. You can also call 301.424.1130 for recorded updates.  
 
Thank you and have a safe winter.
Second Saturday Food Distribution       
Produce
Second Saturday distribution at Manna's Gaithersburg warehouse takes place from 11:30am - 1:30pm on the 2nd Saturday of each month.  Next opportunity is January 9th.

To receive food, clients must have a referral in by the preceding Friday at 3pm to pick up food on the 2nd Saturday. Visit the Manna website for upcoming dates and additional information.
  
Call 301-424-1130 or email [email protected].  
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 November 16, 2015 and December 15, 2015. Without your incredible generosity, we would not be able to feed the families in need in our community. 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 list each of the individuals who also contribute to Manna, but the list would be endless. Thank you again for your support!

3E Technologies International
AABB
About Web, LLC
Abundant Grace Farm
Academy Child Development
    Center
Academy of Fine Arts
Adaptive Methods
Advanced BioScience Laboratories
Alan I. Siegel & Associates
Aldon Management
All African Food Store LLC
Annapolis Kennel Club, Inc.
Arkin Youngentob Associates, LLC
Bahadori Accounting & Tax
    Service, Inc.
Bank of America
Bargain Movers
Bauer Park Community Center
BBYO
Bethesda Chevy Chase H.S.
Bethesda Co-Op
Bethesda Country Day School
Bethesda Soccer Tournament
BioReliance Corp.
Boy Scout Troop #56
Bozzuto Management
    Company
Brookmont Church
Bumblebees Child Care, LLC
Burness Communications
BWW Law Group, LLC
C & I Cleaners
Cabin John Middle School
Calvary Evangelical Lutheran
    Church
Capital Area Food Bank
Carl M. Freeman Companies
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
Center for Leadership
    Excellence
Century Distributors
Certified Pool Renovations
Charles Products, Inc.
Charm City Concierge
Christ Episcopal Church
Christ the Servant Lutheran
    Church
Church of The Redeemer
City of Gaithersburg
City of Rockville
Col. Zadok Magruder H.S.
Colesville Presbyterian
    Church
Community Service
Comtech Mobile Datacom
Crisis Center
Cub Scouts of America
Dream, LLC
ELCO Administrative Service
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Environmental Mgmt.
    Services, Inc.
Erick's Hope, Inc.
Exeter Government Services
First Baptist Church of
    Rockville
First Descents
Fox Hills West Community
GDS/Aetna
Georgetown Village
    Condominiums
Giant Food
Girl Scout Troop #2317
Girl Scout Troop #2782
Global Mission Church
Goodman Distribution
Grace United Methodist
    Church
Grandiff Medical Supplies
Hallman Orthodontics
Harris Teeter
Hartman Design Group Inc.
Haven Universe
Havyaka Association of
    America, DC Chapter
Health & Human Services
Henry Jackson Foundation
Highland View E.S.
Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Hotel, Rockville
Homecrest House, B'Nai
    B'rith
Hostetter Strent LLC
Hughes United Methodist
    Church
Hungry Harvest
International Language Institute
ISS
JBG Companies
Jesus is Lord Church
Jewish Community Center
Jewish Residents of Leisure
    World
Jewish War Vet. Ladies Aux.
JGB Trucking LLC
Julia Bindeman Suburban
    Center
Kaiser Permanente Gaithersburg Medical Center
Kehila Chadasha
KS Cuts
Larry E. Paul Certified
    Financial Planner
Laytonsville Lion's Club
Leisure World
Lenox Park Apartments
Lester Poretsky Family
    Foundation
Lincoln Property Company
Long & Foster Realtors
McLean School of Maryland
Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit
    Union
Mill Creek Parish UMC
Miller, Miller & Canby
MNCPPC
Montgomery County
Montgomery County
    Coalition For The Homeless
Montgomery County Master
    Gardeners
Montgomery County Medical
    Society
Montgomery County Public
    Libraries
Montgomery County Thrift
    Shop Board
Montgomery Faith
    Fellowship
Morgan Stanley-Three Oaks
    Wealth Management
National Council of Jewish
    Women
NCAC, Boy Scouts of America
Norman's Farm Market
Norwood School
OGVC Homeowner's
    Association
One Acre Farm
Open Text Inc.
Or-HaOlam Ministries, Inc.
    (Light of the World)
Osher at Johns Hopkins
    University

Otsuka America
    Pharmeceutical, Inc.
Parkside Condominium
Penzey Spice Company
Pest Whisperer, LLC
Piney Branch E.S.
Propp Family Foundation
Response Tech
Results Leadership Group
Richard Montgomery H.S.
Rock Creek Valley E.S.
Rockville Assembly of God
Rockville Town Square
Rolling Terrace E.S.
Roots
S.A.N. Business
    Consultants LLP
Safeway
Saint Mark Presbyterian
    Church
Sanders Foundation
Self Storage White Flint
Seneca Community Church
Seven Locks Baptist Church
Shady Grove Middle School
Sherwood  E.S.
Shiatsu for Health, LLC
Shrine of St. Jude
Silver Moon
Silver Spring Presbyterian
    Church
Sodexo Foundation
Sodexo, Inc.
Spenserville Adventist
    Church
Spilled Milk Catering
Springbrook High School Music Boosters
Squire, Lemkin &
    Company, LLP
St. Gregory the Great Orthodox Church
St. Mary's Catholic Church
State of Maryland
Sugarloaf Mountain
    Works, Inc.
Supernus Pharmaceuticals
TD Charitable Foundation
Temple Emanuel
The Bar Method
The Goddard School
Thomas Choice Condominiums
Thomas S. Wootton H.S.
Thomas W. Pyle M.S.
Tikvat Israel Congregation
Trader Joe's
Twinbrook Baptist Church
Twinbrook Community
    Church
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Ultra Electronics
Unitarian Universalist Church
    of Rockville
Unity Christ Church of
    Gaithersburg
Vedanta Center of Greater Washington DC
Village of Martin's Additions
Watkins Mill E.S.
Watkins Mill H.S.
Wegmans
Westat, Marketing Services
Whole Foods Market
Whole Kids Academy
Winston Churchill H.S.
Woman's Club of Bethesda
Woodley Garden Club
Xa Loi Temple
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

Please support Manna through your workplace giving campaign.
United Way # 8846
CFC # 23028 

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