The Buncombe County community successfully generated 31,000 pounds of food and $39,500 (to buy food) on July 10th.
Our neighbors’ willingness and collective efforts to make Western North Carolina a better place to live made the difference. The media stepped to the plate and hit a home run for us with a remarkable amount of free advertising time and prominently placed TV, print and radio news stories. Asheville and Buncombe County fire departments volunteered to collect food at each of their stations so that people could donate closer to home. The citizens of this wonderful community arrived early and often on Thursday—undeterred by rain and long lines—to donate food, money and time.
Food banks have traditionally relied on unmarketable and surplus product from the food industry [in order] to stock the shelves. Times have changed dramatically. MANNA FoodBank will be conducting more food drives over the next year in order to replace usual food sources. Our community will continue to struggle with hunger unless economic conditions dramatically shift to favor those facing hunger.
This was MANNA FoodBank’s very first officially sponsored food drive. The citizens of this wonderful area banded together to help improve the lives of thousands in Western North Carolina. MANNA FoodBank will be increasing our outreach in the community in schools, faith communities, businesses, as well as partnering with the music and arts community in an effort to stem the tide of hunger in Western North Carolina.
There’s a difference between hunger and other crises: Hunger has a cure. This community has demonstrated its willingness to be that cure.
— Kitty Schaller
Executive Director
MANNA FoodBank
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