WINTER 2019 - Manna Food Project
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8791 McBride Park Court, Harbor Springs , MI 49770 231.347.8852 ∙ www.mannafoodproject.org WINTER 2019
SUPPORT WHERE
IT’S NEEDED MOST
EVERY DONATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
You’ll notice that one choice on
Manna’s donation envelope is to
designate your gift to “Support
where it is needed most.” If
you check that box, you give
us permission to funnel your
donation to, well, exactly that.
Sometimes your contribution
will be used to help fund an
existing program—like Manna’s
“Food 4 Kids” backpack program,
which provides nearly 2,000 at-
risk elementary and preschool
students with supplemental
food each weekend of the school
year.
Sometimes your contribution will be used for a new initiative like “Produce
for People.” This program enables Manna to purchase locally-grown fruits and
vegetables for those who cannot afford them at the grocery store.
And sometimes your contribution will be used for Operational Costs—utilities,
insurance, vehicle maintenance, office supplies, and staff salaries. Manna runs a
lean machine with just seven full-time employees and one part-time staffer. We
depend on literally hundreds of dedicated volunteers to fill the gaps.
As a non-profit executive, I’ve learned that support for operations are the most
difficult dollars to secure. When I was at the Detroit Institute of Arts, everyone
lined up with their checkbooks to restore a Picasso or to acquire another rare
work of art. Support for security, building maintenance, and gas and electric,
however, was always a challenge—a challenge that Manna faces, too.
Regardless of how you choose to designate your gift to Manna, be assured that it
will be appreciated and go toward what you want to fund. But, I encourage you to
make at least one donation this year to “where it’s needed most.”
—Kim Baker, Executive Director
STEPS TOWARD A
HEALTHY FOOD PANTRY
IMPROVING THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE
OF THE FOOD WE DISTRIBUTE
Health Department of Northwest
Michigan to develop nutritional
guidelines—meant to guide Manna’s
procurement of food, inform the
community of desired food donations,
and provide an example for other
pantries to follow.
Eating healthy can be hard, especially The goal isn’t to change eating habits
when many of us reach for convenient overnight: it’s to help us steer those in
meals like microwave dinners and need in a favorable direction so that
fast food. It doesn’t help that healthier they can make lifestyle changes step
foods are often more expensive. That’s by step. This initiative is also not a
why, unfortunately, food insecurity one-and-done deal. Manna is in it for
and chronic disease usually go hand- the long-haul, with plans to provide
in-hand. Diabetes, heart disease, and education and programming for an
obesity may arise when the only approach that sticks. Learn more at
food available is full of saturated fats, mannafoodproject.org/health-education.
sodium, and sugar.
To promote the health of our pantry —Jessyca Stoepker, Community
clients, Manna partnered with the Engagement Coordinator
FRIENDS OF MANNA
“Friends of Manna” is our way to thank loyal volunteers and financial supporters.
The hard work of our volunteers is invaluable—drastically reducing the cost
of operations—while annual, unrestricted donations provide support for the
remaining expenses. These include the cost of utilities, insurance, vehicle
maintenance, office supplies, and staff salaries.
Our “Friends” are recognized on Manna’s website for their crucial contributions.
This inner circle also receives our quarterly newsletter, invitations to special
events and educational opportunities, and our annual progress report.
Learn more at mannafoodproject.org/friends-of-manna.
PARTNER PROFILE
MANCELONA FOOD PANTRY AND RESALE
Mancelona Food Pantry and Resale has been feeding
the hungry in Antrim County for twenty years—now
serving over 600 individuals each month out of a re-
purposed, historic church.
Edith Plumb is the pantry’s volunteer director. Edith
spent much of her career with La-Z-Boy downstate in
Monroe. Edith and her husband retired and moved to
their hunting property just east of Mancelona.
“Living here full time, I saw how so many families
struggled to make ends meet and how many go hungry.
I felt ‘called’ to help out,” recalls Edith. For many years,
Edith was at the pantry full-time—now she stops by to
help most days.
“When we pack bags for our clients, we do our best to select a variety of food
items that they can turn into nutritious, appetizing meals,” says Edith. “We visit
Manna every two weeks, rain, sleet, or shine, loading up our pick-up truck to
stock our shelves.”
“Open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week, our pantry is funded by
our resale shop. It’s packed with everything from stuffed animals and toys, to
sporting goods, furniture, and clothes for all ages and sizes. Other funding comes
from the Alden Men’s Club and personal contributions.”
Perhaps the most telling part of it all is that some past clients now financially
support the pantry—a true testament to the impact that Edith and other
volunteers make in their community.
PRODUCE FOR PEOPLE
COLORS OF A HEALTHY DIET
If you’re like me, you park your car, walk into Please support our
Meijer, wipe off the handle on your shopping cart, farm partners:
and take a quick left to produce—bright, beautiful,
colorful veggies. BOYNE CITY
Spirit of Walloon Market Garden
I scope some Romaine, squeeze a few tomatoes,
and grab an apple or two to keep the doctor away. CENTRAL LAKE
Providence Organic Farm
Broccoli and a head of cauliflower make their
way to my cart. Then, it’s a hard right toward my CHARLEVOIX
favorites—turnips, parsnips, and beets. Bolt’s Farm
Dhaseleer Farm
Unfortunately, for struggling families, fresh
produce is often bypassed because of the cost. For EAST JORDAN
many of our neighbors, food pantries are the only Bluestem Farm
source of essential ingredients for a balanced diet.
ELLSWORTH
That’s why Manna launched “Produce for People”—a Friske Orchards
community-wide effort to improve the quality and
ELMIRA
nutritional value of the food we distribute. Through Kitchen Farms
generous community support, Manna purchases
farm-fresh produce at or below wholesale prices—all KALKASKA
from local growers. We then distribute the fruits and Elmaple Farm
vegetables free-of-charge to partner pantries.
PELLSTON
The effort has proven to be a win-win-win. Open Sky Organic Farm
Manna can depend on a consistent source and a Ziibimijwang Farm
wide variety of farm-fresh produce. The initiative
PETOSKEY
supports our local farming community, many
Bear Creek Organic Farm
being young entrepreneurs. And, above all else, Bill’s Farm Market
we’re helping to improve the daily diet of those Coveyou Scenic Farm Market
among us who need it most.
WALLOON LAKE
—Kim Baker Peaceful Valley
SPECIAL THANKS TO MEIJER, whose 2018 “Simply Give” campaigns contributed over $210,000 to help feed the hungry in Northern Michigan. BOYNE RESORTS, whose golf professionals won this year’s Harbor Cup and hosted our annual “Golf Fore Manna” charity outing at the Highlands, together raising over $110,000. CHICAGO CLUB, who provided financial support enabling Manna and volunteers from CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH to add a piece of fresh fruit to Charlevoix and Beaver Island “Food 4 Kids” backpacks. BAY VIEW ASSOCIATION, who hosted the 14th Annual Little Traverse CROP Walk, whose Campus Club members contributed generously to Meijer “Simply Give” campaigns, and whose youth group assembled thousands of highly nutritious meal pouches. WALMART, Manna’s #1 Food Rescue Partner, donating over 119,936 pounds of food that would have otherwise ended up as landfill. PETOSKEY SUNRISE ROTARY members, Linda Penfold of WALLOON VILLAGE GENERAL STORE, and Jeff Poet of JAY’S SPORTING GOODS present this year’s “Venison for Manna” raffle winner, 9-year-old Hunter Eaton, with a $500 gift certificate. Over 2,000 pounds of venison were donated this hunting season for those in need.
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