SALAD DAYS: With his Build a Better Salad food truck, chef Gene Ettison, center, is helping to reboot the groundbreaking Ujamaa Freedom Market initiative, which brought fresh produce as well as cooking education and employment opportunities to Asheville's underserved communities. Pictured with Ettison are BABS workers Jerome, left, and Tremaine Williams, both of whom were his students in the Green Opportunities Kitchen Ready program. Photo by Cindy Kunst

Behind the wheel: A chef-farmer collaboration reboots the Ujamaa Freedom Market initiative

Posted on August 8, 2018August 6, 2018 by Gina Smith

Through a partnership with Patchwork Urban Farms, chef Gene Ettison is leveraging a new entrepreneurial venture to bring healthy meals and grocery options to Asheville’s food deserts.

Roll up for a cause

Posted on June 24, 2018June 15, 2018 by Molton

ASHEVILLE, NC

AFTER THE FLOOD: MANNA FoodBank's parking lot became the dance floor and centerpiece for the 19th annual Blue Jean Ball on June 2. Just days prior, the Swannanoa River overflowed during heavy rains, flooding the area where the event was to be staged. But staff and volunteers made sure the show could go on as planned. Photo courtesy of MANNA FoodBank

MANNA FoodBank hosts annual Blue Jean Ball despite flooding

Posted on June 13, 2018June 11, 2018 by Ashley Annin

Every year, MANNA FoodBank hosts a feast to fight famine with its annual Blue Jean Ball. Since 1983, the nonprofit has worked to involve, educate and unite people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina, and for nearly 20 years, this signature event has raised money to support those efforts. This year’s 19th Blue […]

MUSIC NOT MEAT: This year's Asheville VeganFest will include two benefit shows. Antibalas, featured here on their 2012 self-titled album cover, is a Brooklyn-based, Afrobeat, jazz and funk band. The group will headline the Saturday evening event. Photo courtesy of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue

Small bites: Fourth Asheville VeganFest brings new events

Posted on May 29, 2018May 30, 2018 by Thomas Calder

The Asheville VeganFest returns with three-days of festivities. Also: MANNA FoodBank hosts its 19th annual Blue Jean Ball, Mini-VegFest debuts, The Black Jar Honey Tasting returns and The Southern Kitchen and Bar closes.

DRIVE TO DO GOOD: The French Broad River Academy collected over 540 pounds of food for MANNA FoodBank this year, earning the title of Best Middle School in the organization’s annual School Food Drive. The academy made the effort fun by challenging students, including Ellis Brunk, left, and Will Yurko, right, to compete against their faculty advisers to see who could bring in the most donations.

Creative local students help MANNA FoodBank achieve a food drive milestone

Posted on May 17, 2018May 14, 2018 by Shawndra Russell

By linking donations to friendly competitions and events and publicizing efforts on social media, Western North Carolina schools brought in more food and funds than ever before in this annual collection drive.

NOT BY BREAD ALONE: Ben Brill of Weaverville packs bread to be distributed by MANNA FoodBank, which operates in the 17 westernmost counties of the state. MANNA is hoping to find funding for a mobile food pantry to get food to people in food deserts. Photo by Leslie Boyd

Local agencies battle health woes of food deserts in WNC

Posted on December 1, 2017December 6, 2017 by Leslie Boyd

Food deserts —areas where people do not have easy access to large grocery stores — can occur in both urban or rural areas. Food deserts exist in many areas of WNC, including Asheville and Hendersonville. Malnutrition that occurs in food deserts can lead to poor physical and mental health.

TALKING TRASH: Kiera Bulan, left, coordinator for the Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council, leads a small group in wrap-up discussions at the recent Regional Food Waste Summit. Nearly 100 attendees from around WNC converged on Warren Wilson College for the event to share information and ideas about food waste prevention, recovery and recycling,

Road to recovery: WNC addresses food waste with a regional summit

Posted on November 1, 2017October 30, 2017 by Gina Smith

The recent Regional Food Waste Summit at Warren Wilson College provided a forum for Western North Carolina nonprofits, businesses, educational institutions and individuals to hash out the realities of the local food waste conundrum.

NEW TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Polanco opened in mid-September. Chef and owner Ricardo Carrasco, a native of Tampico, Mexico, says he wants to bring his interpretation of Mexican culture and cuisine to Asheville.

Small bites: Polanco opens on North Market Street

Posted on October 17, 2017November 29, 2017 by Thomas Calder

Polanco brings a fresh take on Mexican fare to the former Vincenzo’s space. Also, Warren Wilson College hosts the Regional Food Waste Summit, White Labs Kitchen & Tap opens on South Charlotte Street, chocolate comes to The Collider and Abby Artemisia hosts a workshop on foraging.

FEEDING MORE KIDS: For two years, Adam Lefevre, age 4, has volunteered at MANNA FoodBank with his mother and brother assembling MANNA Packs for Kids, which are distributed weekly to food-insecure school children in Western North Carolina. A $50,000 grant has allowed the program to expand for this school year to reach hundreds more kids in need.

Call to action: WNC hunger-relief agencies celebrate progress, promote awareness

Posted on August 30, 2017August 31, 2017 by Gina Smith

Hunger Action Month brings a fresh-produce hub for Haywood and Jackson counties, an expansion of the MANNA Packs for Kids program and a new initiative that engages tourists in raising funds to alleviate food-insecurity in Asheville and beyond.

FOLLOW THE RED BRICK ROAD: Karen and Jeff Lazzaro display a pair of bricks that will be added to Double D's readable patio in late September.

Small bites: Double D’s Coffee and Desserts launches ‘readable patio project’

Posted on August 1, 2017August 4, 2017 by Thomas Calder

Double D’s Coffee and Desserts invites the community to be a part of its latest renovation project. Also in this week’s food news, Sunny Point Café hosts a benefit dinner for FEAST, Farm to Fender celebrates its grand opening and Seasonal School of Culinary Arts announces a week of classes with local celebrity chefs and authors.

MAY I HELP YOU?: Vanessa Howe, a regular MANNA HelpLine volunteer, answers a call. Through the HelpLine, Howe helps families across Western North Carolina get access to food through Food and Nutrition Service (food stamps) applications and referring people to MANNA’s partner pantry network.

Close call: Recent fears over loss of food aid highlight need in WNC

Posted on July 26, 2017July 27, 2017 by Jonathan Ammons

Although it never made it into the approved budget, a provision included in North Carolina’s spending plan this spring calling for statewide cuts to food assistance had WNC hunger-relief organizations on high alert.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS: Volunteer Larry McLaughlin greets diners at the Leicester Community Welcome Table, a project supported by local churches and MANNA FoodBank that served almost 10,000 meals last year and delivered about 80 meals a week to shut-ins. Photo by Bob Kalk

Dedicated elders help nourish their neighbors in Leicester

Posted on May 19, 2017May 19, 2017 by Xpress Contributor

Supported by local churches and the Asheville-based MANNA FoodBank, the Leicester Community Welcome Table served almost 10,000 meals last year, delivered about 80 meals a week to shut-ins and generated more than 4,500 hours of volunteer labor.

RAISING AWARENESS: Anthony, Sherrye and Sydney Coggiola, owners of The Cantina at Historic Biltmore Village, have been battling food insecurity in WNC for the last three years. The three are now hoping to take their mission statewide.

Small bites: The Cantina at Historic Biltmore Village asks for votes against hunger

Posted on April 18, 2017April 17, 2017 by Thomas Calder

The Cantina at Historic Biltmore Village is vying for a $100,000 grant that will allow it to expand its Skip a Meal program statewide. Also: Rhubarb hosts its third FED Talk, a winery passport comes to Asheville, and MANNA introduces its Table for Three raffle.

DOUBLING DOWN: Andrew Goodheart Brown, left, and Bobby Sullivan work in the produce section at the French Broad Food Co-op. The downtown market is one of two Asheville grocery retailers that will begin offering Double Up Food Bucks benefits on locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables to SNAP users this month.

Double Up Food Bucks program benefits both Asheville SNAP participants and local farmers

Posted on April 12, 2017April 10, 2017 by Jonathan Ammons

A new program spearheaded by the Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council gives SNAP users more spending power when purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Western North Carolina.

STAGE PRESENTS: Town Mountain’s performance at Asheville Holiday Hang will likely include Christmas songs and several unrecorded tunes by the bluegrass band. "We're due for some studio time," banjoist and vocalist Jesse Langlais says. "There's nothing set in stone by any stretch, but it's on our minds."

Conscious party: Town Mountain’s Asheville Holiday Hang

Posted on December 11, 2016December 9, 2016 by Kat McReynolds

Funds from Town Mountain’s four previous benefit concerts for MANNA FoodBank have covered the cost of an estimated 25,000-30,000 meals, according to the band. The fifth iteration takes place at The Grey Eagle on Friday, Dec. 16.

LOOK FOR THE BARRELS: Throughout the River Arts District, barrels will be set up to accept donations for the Feed the Body and Soul food drive during the Fall Studio Stroll. Guests are encouraged to donate nonperishable food items, which will be distributed to those in need by MANNA FoodBank.

Small bites: River Arts District Fall Studio Stroll benefits MANNA

Posted on November 8, 2016November 8, 2016 by Thomas Calder

River Arts District Artists partners with MANNA FoodBank and Ingles for a canned food drive. Also, Highlands Food and Wine Festival celebrates its 10th year, Addison Farms Vineyard launches a wine club, the West Asheville Tailgate Market holds a Caribbean soul food supper and a new Mediterranean restaurant will open soon in the former Chorizo spot in the Grove Arcade.

THE DRIVING FORCE: MANNA Express is staffed by volunteers whose deliveries take them as far north as Avery County and as far west as Cherokee County. Pictured, from left, are volunteers Tom Nolan and Burt Siders.

A movable feast: MANNA Express initiative delivers fresh food to the hungry

Posted on September 14, 2016September 14, 2016 by Thomas Calder

MANNA Express began last fall with deliveries of fresh produce, baked goods, dairy and meat going out to a handful of partners and agencies in Buncombe County. In the past few months, the program has stretched outward to all 16 counties that MANNA serves.

START THE FIRE: Christine Garvin's dance troupe will perform an original routine that plays off the fire-and-ice theme at MANNA FoodBank's Blue Jean Ball. "They work wonders in getting the crowd ready to dance," says organizer Alisa Hixson.

Small bites: Dance by the river at MANNA FoodBank’s Blue Jean Ball

Posted on May 25, 2016May 23, 2016 by Kat McReynolds

MANNA FoodBank prepares for its largest fundraising party of the year, the Blue Jean Ball; David Meesters leads a class on healthy digestion at Villagers; Arancini makes another transformation into an Italian Sub spot; and Gaining Ground Farm and Yesterday Spaces host a dinner experience to benefit the GO Kitchen Ready program.

JOINING THE TEAM: Hannah Randall (left) joins Gary Landwirth (center), MANNA’s CEO transition consultant, and Cindy Threlkeld (right), MANNA’s recently retired executive director, at the May 1 dedication ceremony for the successful completion of the Space to Erase Hunger building project. The building project was a major initiative under Threlkeld’s tenure at MANNA, and sets the stage for Randall to further the food bank’s work to end hunger in Western North Carolina.

MANNA FoodBank introduces a new CEO

Posted on May 17, 2016May 17, 2016 by Thomas Calder

On May 2, MANNA FoodBank welcomed Hannah Randall as its new CEO. Randall joins the organization after having served in a variety of roles with other nonprofits, including the Animal Protection Society of Person County, Carolina Cross Connection and the Lincoln County United Way. “Her commitment to the wellbeing of the greater community is obvious in everything she does, […]

SENIOR MOMENT: Reading coach Ken Lenington with his Read to Succeed student at Vance Elementary. Photo by Kelsey Wayne

Gray area: Senior volunteers fuel local nonprofits

Posted on May 5, 2016May 6, 2016 by Virginia Daffron

A great gray army is at work throughout Buncombe County: retired people donating their time to groups of every stripe. This unpaid workforce brings with it a wide variety of life experiences, but its members have remarkably similar goals: to forge connections and make this community a better place, finding meaning through giving back.

PACKING THEM IN: Volunteers at MANNA FoodBank celebrate as Fairview Elementary student Zach Dickey, 9, places the one-millionth MANNA Pack for Kids in a box, ready for delivery. This group of volunteers comes every week to pack thousands of MANNA Packs, which are then distributed every Friday to students across Western North Carolina.

Small bites: MANNA FoodBank packs its millionth book bag with weekend food

Posted on February 17, 2016February 15, 2016 by Kat McReynolds

MANNA FoodBank will deliver its millionth weekend food pack to a local student; Table will explore the many Mexican moles at an upcoming dinner event; Medea’s Espresso & Juice Bar is offering a fermentation workshop; and an A-B Tech culinary arts graduate is advancing to a national-level competition.

Tag: MANNA FoodBank

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