MANNA FoodBank seeks support as community needs remain high

Press release from MANNA FoodBank:

While the national conversation moves from one crisis to another, food banks across the country have continued to serve a deep and persistent need for food. MANNA FoodBank, the Feeding America affiliate serving 16 westernmost counties of North Carolina, saw a dramatic spike in the number of people needing food in March due to the pandemic – a spike that has remained elevated. 

 

Since March, MANNA and their network of hundreds of WNC nonprofit partners continue to serve a record number of people: On average, over 96,000 individuals each month have sought food assistance at a MANNA partner agency (March-June 2020). This is a 61% increase over the early months of 2020 and trends of prior years. 

 

“When the necessary shutdown occurred in mid-March, countless people were plunged in a financial crisis over night, many of whom who found themselves in need of our help for the first time in their lives,” said Mary Nesbitt, Chief Development Officer. “As the health and economic crisis stretches on, the need continues to be far beyond what we were experiencing pre-COVID.”

 

MANNA reports having immediate needs for basic organizational support, including the need for community volunteers, to keep up with the ongoing demand. The organization’s dedicated regular shift volunteers — many of whom are in vulnerable categories for the virus per the CDC — were urged to responsibly stay home, in line with public health and safety precautions.

 

“Right now, MANNA needs community volunteers who are low risk and feel comfortable coming out to volunteer to please sign up on our website. Our goal is to double our production of family food boxes in the coming weeks and so we need many more helping hands in order to expand our capacity.” Nesbitt added.

 

MANNA continues to follow all CDC health and safety precautions—including hand washing, requiring masks, frequent facility sanitization, and social distancing—to ensure staff and volunteer safety, enabling the organization to continue working to meet the region’s increased food distribution needs. 

 

The Uncertain Months Ahead

Back in March, the nightly news was airing footage of cars lined up at food banks. But just last week, the US Census Bureau reported a record high in July: over 30 million Americans didn’t have enough food to eat during the week ending July 21.

 

This national trend also reflects the local need for food, and is increasingly worrisome as the pandemic stretches on. From March through July 2020, MANNA distributed over 10.3 million pounds of food – the equivalent of 8.5 million meals. This is a significant increase in MANNA’s food distribution; at least 34% over the same time last year.

 

“The greater Asheville area ranks 9^th in the entire nation for mid-size cities with the highest percentage of leisure and retail jobs. Therefore, sadly, our beautiful WNC communities have been hit particularly hard during this economic and public health crisis,” Nesbitt stated.

 

An additional concern for MANNA is providing basic food support to communities who are being hit the hardest by the pandemic: seniors, Latinx, and Black communities who are statistically more affected by the pandemic, and thus at increased risk for experiencing food insecurity.

 

“With the continued support of so many caring individuals, corporate partners and foundations lending volunteer and financial support, we are determined to show up for all those who need us during the long road to recovery ahead,” Nesbitt added.