Manna - The Durango Soup Kitchen

Resource Center Program: On March 28, 2022, we launched the Community Kitchen with Take-out Window/Food Market and Resource Center. Manna's new model provides case management, outreach and supportive services for families/individuals who are food insecure, marginalized, homeless and/or at-risk of homelessness in La Plata County and the surrounding area. We connect program participants with core services that help people meet basic needs, case management and positive encouragement to help them reach their goals. Manna's Bilingual (Spanish/English) Navigator and Outreach position is an advocate and liaison for program participants that overcomes language barriers and supports an inclusive environment. Resource Center Navigators provide supportive services, service navigation, housing assistance, job development, case management and positive encouragement to help program participants overcome social determinants of health barriers and help them become self-sufficient. In 2023, Manna served 1,332 unduplicated individuals through this program.

Garden Program: In 2023, Manna completed building an outdoor pavilion and gazebo in the Manna Garden which provides the community with space to share a meal, host events and an ADA accessible walkway through the pavilion, gazebo and greenhouse. Manna has also added kids garden beds, potting benches, and tools providing the needed resources to function as an outdoor classroom to host on-site garden educational programming and provide a fun, safe, activity-based play area for youth. In April 2023, Manna placed into service a 28.9-kilowatt (kW) system, comprised of 68 x 425-watt solar panels on the rooftop of Mannas Community Kitchen/Resource Center building. Mannas solar panel system will provide an energy supply that reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and support creating an environmentally friendly campus.

Community Kitchen Program: The Take-out Window allows for more equitable food access and centers around participant choice. It is open five days a week, four hours a day. Everyone is welcome to receive meals. People can select a variety of food options. In 2023, 71,624 meals were distributed. Mannas free Food Market is set up like a grocery store with refrigerators, produce and shopping carts. Participants are able to freely select from an array of nutritious foods based on dietary needs, culturally appropriate and desired food choices. Food Market is open four days a week and the hours of operation accommodate those on varied work/school schedules. In 2023,there were 10,933 visits to Food Market and 244,053 pounds of food were distributed.