Manna on Main Street

Manna's market (food pantry): for over half of fye 2022 due to the hardship to clients caused by the pandemic, individuals and families in our service area and beyond were able to receive groceries once a week, rather than the twice per month prepandemic use of the market. In may of 2022, we returned to twice per month use of the market. Households can shop for groceries twice per calendar month via in-person shopping or via Manna's smartchoice online ordering system, both of which allow for full choice of grocery items, including fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat and other household essentials. Online shopping sets our food pantry apart, and we have invested substantially in smartchoice, which is translated into the 7 preferred languages of our diverse clientele in addition to english. In fye 2022, about 30% of all pantry orders were made online. In fye 2022, Manna's market distributed 662,799 pounds of groceries to 1,178 households or 3,346 individuals. Manna employes a "choice model" so that clients can select wholesome food based on dietary and cultural preferences. The amount of food they receive is based upon family size and age of household members. There are no maximum income exclusions but most market clients live at less than 300% of the federal poverty level and receive snap benefits.

Emergency financial aid: Manna is one of six nonprofits administering a federally-funded program through montgomery county to assist county residents impacted by covid-19 to stay housed and prevent evictions. In fye 2022, Manna stewarded nearly 5.5 million to achieve housing stability for hundreds of households. Additionally, Manna continues its core emergency financial aid program to meet one-time critical needs of households who live in the north penn school district footprint. Aid is provided for rent, emergency hotel stays,utilities, prescriptions, medical and dental aid, and other various needs. Funds are only provided if the individual is able to sustain themselves after the emergency situation has been resolved. The hope for the holidays program provides families with a 75 visa gift card per child to purchase needed items during the winter holiday season. Any family with children 18 and under that uses Manna's market is eligible. Donors contribute the funds needed to buy the visa gift cards.

Manna's kitchen (soup kitchen): in fye 2022, we returned to being open seven days a week as the pandemic eased and we could safely serve a community meal. A hybrid approach was used providing to-go meals seven days a week and a hot, sit down meal in the afternoon monday through thursday. This hybrid approach was the result of the response we received from clients who appreciated the convenience to take meals home rather than bringing their whole family to eat at Manna and the desire for a hot meal in a community setting. Healthy to-go meals are produced in Manna's kitchen and include meat, non- pork, and vegetarian options. The hot, sit down meals offer diners a choice from a selection of meat and vegetarian options. Both to-go meals and hot, sit down meals are served by compassionate volunteers. In fye 2022, Manna's kitchen served 66,176 meals, 70% more than pre- pandemic meals service and 25% less than in fye 2021 when the effects of the pandemic were still evident.

Common grounds food service training to employment program - a free, 8 week training program that utilizes the national, evidence-based catalyst kitchens model. Trainees attend food service classes and learn experientially while contributing to food production in mannna's soup kitchen and assisting with service through Manna's common grounds cafe, catering and contract meal social enterprises. Through these real-life opportunties, they gain front-of-house customer service experience along with back-of-house execution of all they learn. Trainees also meet regularly with Manna's staff to learn work and life skills, include resume building and interview skills. Manna works with graduates to secure food service employment, where the trainee can thrive and continue learning and growing. In fye 2022, common grounds enrolled 22 trainees, with 18 (82%) graduating and 78% of graduates employed or enrolled in higher education within one year of graduation.