Where will we be in 2020?

Dear Friend of Manna,

This is the season for cook outs, graduations, vacations...and surveys. As our fiscal year winds down, Manna asks clients their opinions of our services, parents their satisfaction with Smart Sacks, and solicit from staff ideas for improving our workplace.  We are also asking YOU and other members of the community to share your ideas about Manna's future.

Right now Manna is in the midst of a strategic planning effort.  We are grappling with issues like "Does Manna go wide with our scope, serving every hungry person, or deep with our programs to support self-sufficiency more comprehensively?"  We also wonder about our culture:  "Do we work with our clients as partners to end hunger or do we work for them as recipients?" As we shape the course of Manna's work at the center of ending hunger for 2017-2020, we want YOUR views too.   

*Please take about 10 minutes to answer 4 questions via an online survey. We would appreciate your response by June 21.

The survey responses will add to what we are hearing through interviews and focus groups with donors, volunteers, clients, peers.  Manna was founded by the community in 1983 and we want the benefit of the community's input about how we can best accomplish our mission of ending hunger in Montgomery County.  Thank you for taking the time out of your summer season to guide us.

Looking forward,
 
Jackie DeCarlo
Executive Director
240.268.2524
Do More 24- A Huge Thank You

Do More 24 is a 24-hour local fundraiser, powered by United Way of the National Capital Area. On June 2nd over 700 nonprofits throughout our region participated, raising a combined total of over $1.5 million.  These funds will allow local nonprofits to fill holes in their budgets, buy new equipment and serve more people in need across our region.  

As one of the participating nonprofits, Manna's goal was $2400, which translated to 100 gifts at $24 each (the cost of a week of Starbucks coffee). Together with support from our Board, the community, our treasured volunteers and friends, we made it happen!  We raised over $3800 in 24 hours--and it was all because of you!  

Thank you for all you do to help feed our neighbors here in the county.

Volunteer at a Farmers Market
Manna is excited to be partnering with four local Farmers Markets this year.  Below are the times/days/locations of the Markets.
 
Rockville Pike Central, SATURDAYS, 9am - 1:30pm (May 16th - Nov 21st)
 
Rockville Town Center, SATURDAYS, 9am - 1pm (May 16th - Nov 21st)
 
Bethesda Central, SUNDAYS, 9am - 1:30pm (May 10th - Nov 1st)
 
Olney Market, SUNDAYS, 9am - 1pm (May 10th - Nov 1st)
 
Volunteers check in with the Market Manager and then staff the Manna table, collecting food and funds while engaging with customers!  Throughout the day, you let them know who Manna is and what we're doing at the market.  Toward the end of the market, you will assist the Market Manager in purchasing food from the farmers with funds collected that day.  When our truck arrives, you help bag and load the food on to our Manna truck.

Students can earn SSL hours!  Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.  If you are interested in registering for a market date, please click here to request a shift.  Please note that the maximum number of volunteers is 5.  Thank you for supporting our efforts to continue providing fresh produce to our families.
  
Food Drives-- Thank You

Through the Stamp Out Hunger initiative on Saturday, May 16th Postal Carriers collected non-perishable food donations left by mailboxes and delivered them to local community food banks, pantries and shelters.

Stamp Out Hunger brought in 35,552 lbs. of food for Manna! We are so appreciative to all the people in the community who donated during this food drive. Big thanks to all the postal carriers who helped collect this food.
 
And in more Food Drive News.....

Our Faith Partners are essential to supporting the needs of Manna Food Center's clients.  This Spring Manna benefited from the Montgomery County Muslim Foundation's (MCMF) incredible show of support during their food drive at Giant Food Stores.  By mobilizing its membership over the course of two weekends at local Giant stores, MCMF boosted Manna's ability to end hunger this summer by securing a dontaion of 11,176 pounds of nonperishable food
 
Thank you to the Montgomery County Muslim Foundation for your support!

Want to organize your own food drive to benefit Manna?  Check out some helpful tips and a list of most desired foods on our website.  

Manna Blog
Four Health Habits To Start Today
By Lindsey Seegers, Nutrition Educator, Manna Food Center

I've been teaching healthy budget shopping with the Cooking Matters at the Store program for the three years I've been Manna's Nutrition Educator. The questions that arise week after week are, sadly, the same: "I was just diagnosed with Type II diabetes, what can I eat now?"
 
In response to this question, I developed a new class for Manna called "Habits to Hinder Diabetes and Chronic Disease". I teach this class at agencies throughout Montgomery County. This week alone, we've taught the workshop to over 60 individuals at senior apartment complexes and the Wells-Robertson House. The refrain of this class is that Type II diabetes can be controlled, and-best of all-prevented and potentially reversed. There is so much bad news about diabetes, a diagnosis that can be frustrating, confusing, and maddening. So I set out to create an uplifting workshop that highlights the ways we can take control over our health. One of those is to gradually transition our eating habits from those abundant meats and sweets to more beans and greens. But informed food choices are only one piece of prevention.
 
Here are the four healthy habits we discuss at the end of the workshop (adapted from The End of Diabetes by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.):
 

1.      Make a commitment to yourself.

Write down your health goal and share with valued people in your life. Rather than thinking "I'm on a diet", consider the choices you are making towards your own health and positive well-being. This isn't about deprivation, it's about the good care you're giving yourself. Indulgent comfort-food may provide a momentary boost, but the most pleasure in life comes from more meaningful achievements. Each day of healthier food choices brings you closer to improving your health.

Click Here to continue reading more Healthy Habits...   
Volunteer Opportunities-- Looking for Summer Help
distro volunteers 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 hours.
Referral Office
Client Services Representative
Help log referrals by phone, fax, and email in to our database.  Volunteers must be able to commit to a minimum of 6 months. English/Spanish bi-lingual skills are required. 

Shifts Currently Available:
Thursdays, 4-7pm    
(weekly commitment)

 Day or Evening Floater 
(Shift varies depending on availabilty during July and August)

 2nd Saturday of the Month, 10am-2pm
(monthly commitment)
Email Katie  
for more information.

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.

Satellite Distribution Centers
Volunteers help, Tuesday at Catholic Charities and Wednesday at Long Branch Community Center from 3pm-7pm, distributing prepacked boxes, assisting clients to their car, and taking in food donations. 

Must be 17 years of age of older.  This opportunity is approved for SSL hours.
Second Saturday Food Distribution
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 July 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 referral@mannafood.org.  
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 April 16, 2016 - May 15, 2016. 

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 also list each of the individuals who contribute to Manna; thank you all again for your support!

Alice Shaver Foundation
Newman's Own Foundation
Bargain Movers
Norman's Farm Markets
BBYO Rockville Chapter
Norwood School
Bethany Presbyterian Church
Olney Farmers & Artists' Market
Bethesda Central Farmers' Market
Otsuka America Pharmeceutical, Inc.
Bethesda Co-Op
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
Bloomingdale's Chevy Chase
Pilgrim United Church of Christ
B'nai Israel Congregation
ProShare Advisors LLC
Bullis School
Response Tech
Capital Area Food Bank
Restoration Church of Maryland
Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
Richard Montgomery HS
City of Gaithersburg
Ride-On Transit
City of Rockville
Rockville Farmers' Market
Coldwell Banker
Roots
Colesville Presbyterian Church
Safeway
CSG Enterprise, L.P.
Saint Mark Presbyterian Church
Department of Finance
Sanders Foundation
Eaves Jr. Youth Justice League
Sandy Spring Bank
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Self Storage White Flint
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
Seven Locks Baptist Church
Faith United Methodist Church
Seven Locks ES
Farquhar MS
Shred Shoe Event
First Baptist Church of Rockville
Shrine of St. Jude
First Fruits Farm
Sodexo
Forest Oak MS
Sodexo Foundation
GEICO Philanthropic Foundation
Ss. Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
Giant Food
SSSBC Inc.
Girl Scout Troop #545
St. John's Episcopal School
Great American Restaurants
St. Jude Regional Catholic School
GSCNC Troop #4611
State of Maryland
Harris Teeter
Sugarloaf Mountain Works, Inc.
Herbert Hoover MS
TD Charitable Foundation
Jewish War Vet. Ladies Aux.
Temple Beth Ami
Johns Hopkins Community Physicians
Temple Emanuel
Journey's Crossing Congregation
The Goddard School
Lester Poretsky Family Foundation
Tifereth Israel Congregation
Lutheran Church of St. Andrew
Trader Joe's
Macy's Corporate Services, Inc.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville
Mead Family Foundation
United Way of Charles County, Inc.
Montgomery County
United Way of Greater Knoxville
Montgomery County Master Gardeners
USPS Stamp Out Hunger Campaign
Montgomery County Muslim Foundation
Village of Martin's Additions
Montgomery County Thrift Shop Board
Wegmans
MSI Soccer
Whole Foods Market
National Council of Jewish Women

Woman's Club of Bethesda

Woodley Garden Club


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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Manna Food Center | 9311 Gaither Road | Gaithersburg | MD | 20877