Manna On Main Street

MANNA ON MAIN STREET IS COMMITTED TO ENDING HUNGER IN THE NORTH PENN REGION BY PROVIDING FOOD, FULFILLING SOCIAL SERVICE AND EDUCATION NEEDS, AND CONDUCTING COMMUNITY OUTREACH. THROUGH A FOOD PANTRY AND SOUP KITCHEN, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID, COUNSELING AND REFERRALS , AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, WE SERVE THOSE IN NEED WITH THE HOPE "THAT EVERYONE MIGHT BE FED".

MANNA'S MARKET (FOOD PANTRY): DUE TO THE HARDSHIP TO CLIENTS CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC, INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR SERVICE AREA AND BEYOND WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE GROCERIES ONCE A WEEK, RATHER THAN THE TWICE PER MONTH PRE- PANDEMIC USE OF THE MARKET. IN FYE2021, MANNA'S MARKET DISTRIBUTED 898,261 POUNDS OF GROCERIES (APPROXIMATELY DOUBLE OUR PRE-PANDEMIC OPERATIONS) TO 1,187 HOUSEHOLDS OR 3,474 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING 1,123 CHILDREN AND 506 SENIORS. MANNA EMPLOYS A "CHOICE MODEL" SO THAT CLIENTS CAN SELECT WHOLESOME FOOD BASED ON DIETARY AND CULTURAL PREFERENCES. THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THEY RECEIVE IS BASED UPON FAMILY SIZE AND AGE OF HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS. THERE ARE NO MAXIMUM INCOME EXCLUSIONS BUT MOST MARKET CLIENTS LIVE AT LESS THAN 300% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL AND RECEIVE SNAP BENEFITS.

MANNA'S KITCHEN (SOUP KITCHEN): PRE-PANDEMIC, MANNA'S KITCHEN WAS THE ONLY SOUP KITCHEN OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA. A HOT MEAL SERVED BY COMPASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS WAS OFFERED TO ANYONE IN NEED TWICE PER DAY. IN MID-MARCH 2020 THROUGH FYE 2021, FOR SAFETY REASONS, WE ADAPTED MEAL DELIVERY TO PROVIDE TO-GO MEALS TO ANYONE IN NEED, WHICH CONVENIENTLY ALLOWS HOUSEHOLDS TO TAKE MEALS HOME RATHER THAN BRINGING THEIR WHOLE FAMILY TO EAT AT MANNA. HEALTHY TO-GO MEALS-INCLUDING MEAT, NON-PORK, AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS-ARE SERVED BY VOLUNTEERS SIX DAYS PER WEEK. IN FYE 2021, MANNA'S KITCHEN SERVED 89,000 MEALS, APPROXIMATELY DOUBLE OUR PRE-PANDEMIC OPERATIONS.

EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID: MANNA IS ONE OF SIX NONPROFITS ADMINISTERING A FEDERALLY-FUNDED PROGRAM THROUGH MONTGOMERY COUNTY TO ASSIST COUNTY RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY COVID-19 TO STAY HOUSED AND PREVENT EVICTIONS. IN FYE 2021, MANNA STEWARDED OVER 4 MILLION AIMED TO ACHIEVE HOUSING STABILITY FOR HUNDREDS OF HOUSEHOLDS. ADDITIONALLY, MANNA CONTINUES ITS CORE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM TO MEET ONE-TIME CRITICAL NEEDS OF HOUSEHOLDS WHO LIVE IN THE NORTH PENN SCHOOL DISTRICT FOOTPRINT. AID IS PROVIDED FOR RENT, EMERGENCY HOTEL STAYS, UTILITIES, PRESCRIPTIONS, MEDICAL AND DENTAL AID, AND OTHER VARIOUS NEEDS. FUNDS ARE ONLY PROVIDED IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES AFTER THE EMERGENCY SITUATION HAS BEEN RESOLVED. THE HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS PROGRAM PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH A 75 VISA GIFT CARD PER CHILD TO PURCHASE NEEDED ITEMS DURING THE WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON. ANY FAMILY WITH CHILDREN 18 AND UNDER THAT USES MANNA'S MARKET IS ELIGIBLE. DONORS CONTRIBUTE THE FUNDS NEEDED TO BUY THE VISA GIFT CARDS.

COMMON GROUNDS FOOD SERVICE TRAINING TO EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM - A FREE, 8 WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM THAT UTILIZES THE NATIONAL, EVIDENCE-BASED CATALYST KITCHENS MODEL. TRAINEES ATTEND FOOD SERVICE CLASSES AND LEARN EXPERIENTIALLY WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO FOOD PRODUCTION IN MANNNA'S SOUP KITCHEN AND ASSISTING WITH SERVICE THROUGH MANNA'S COMMON GROUNDS CAFE, CATERING AND CONTRACT MEAL SOCIAL ENTERPRISES. THROUGH THESE REAL-LIFE OPPORTUNTIES, THEY GAIN FRONT-OF-HOUSE CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE ALONG WITH BACK-OF-HOUSE EXECUTION OF ALL THEY LEARN. TRAINEES ALSO MEET REGULARLY WITH MANNA'S STAFF TO LEARN WORK AND LIFE SKILLS, INCLUDE RESUME BUILDING AND INTERVIEW SKILLS. MANNA WORKS WITH GRADUATES TO SECURE FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYMENT, WHERE THE TRAINEE CAN THRIVE AND CONTINUE LEARNING AND GROWING. IN FYE 2021, COMMON GROUNDS ENROLLED 19 TRAINEES, WITH 16 GRADUATING AND 81% OF GRADUATES EMPLOYED OR ENROLLED IN HIGHER EDUCATION WITHIN ONE YEAR OF GRADUATION.