MANNA puts out plea for food assistance

Posted on by Hal L. Millard

Asheville-based MANNA FoodBank is urging WNC residents to give to an emergency food drive this Thursday, July 10.

“This is a ‘perfect storm’ of need: rising food costs, spikes in fuel prices, rampant layoffs and further economic stagnation,” according to an announcement from MANNA, which serves 325 nonprofit member agencies in 16 WNC counties.

“MANNA FoodBank’s partner agencies are seeing a significant increase in those seeking emergency food assistance in Western North Carolina,” the announcement states. “This need has swelled with the onset of summer months. While MANNA FoodBank expected a surge in the summer months, the recent economic downturn has ballooned the need beyond previously forecasted numbers.”

Adds MANNA Executive Director Kitty Schaller: “With children losing access to subsidized school meals, low-income people face a dire situation. This summer is no picnic for them.” 

On Thursday, July 10, MANNA will open at 7 a.m. at its headquarters at 627 Swannanoa River Road to accept donations and will close at 8 p.m. Additionally, you can drop off your cans at any of the Buncombe County fire stations as well as the local chapter of the American Red Cross between now and July 10. The Red Cross is located off Merrimon Avenue at 100 Edgewood Road.

If you are unable to come by MANNA on July 10 during daytime hours, there will be a live music event that night at the Emerald Lounge on Lexington Avenue, where you can also bring your canned goods from 8 p.m until midnight.

— Hal L. Millard, staff writer

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2 thoughts on “MANNA puts out plea for food assistance”

  1. Dionysis

    Manna provides a very important and needed service. Hopefully, readers will respond to this call and help out. Every little bit is critical to their operation.

  2. Foto-Jennic

    Glad this was posted – we just cleaned out our pantry of cans and boxes of food and now we’ve got ther perfect solution as to how to give them to the proper cause.

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