FAQ: MANNA FoodBank’s Hurricane Helene Response

Q: How is MANNA FoodBank doing?
A:  Our facility was destroyed by Hurricane Helene, but our team’s spirit is resilient and unbroken. All staff are accounted for and are safe. Due the severe flooding, we lost all of our warehouse food and equipment on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, but thanks to the strength of our team and partnering with the WNC Farmers Market, we were back to distributing food, water, and supplies by Monday morning on Sept. 30, 2024. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love and support as we work to serve as many storm survivors as possible.

Q:  How can people in need get food, water, and other supplies?
A: Here are the dates, time, & location for our current emergency distributions:

• To Get Food and Supplies – Distribution Information:
  • Location: WNC Farmer’s Market, 570 Brevard Rd, Ashville, 28806 (in the parking lot to the left, just past Jesse Israel Nursery.) Click here for map/directions Dates: October 7 – 12 and October 14 – 19
  • Times: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
• For information about other distributions:
  • Call: 800-820-1109
  • Text: 828-367-9456
• (And please note – As our recovery continues, the dates/times/logistics of our distributions are subject to change, so please check our website for the very latest.)

Q:       How can I help Manna help our neighbors in need? 
A:       Donate funds, supplies, and/or your time!

• Donate funds:
  • A monetary donation is the most effective and efficient way to help us help storm survivors, for both our immediate needs and our long-term response.
  • You can make a secure online donation at: donate.mannafoodbank.org
  • If you’d like to mail a monetary donation as a check or money order, please send to: 627 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville, NC 28805 (please do not send cash.) The post office is holding our mail for us and a MANNA staff member will collect all mail sent to us.
  • Please email donatefunds@mannafoodbank.org if you have any questions regarding making a financial contribution.

• Donate supplies:
  • Address for donation drop-offs:
    • 99 Broadpointe Dr, Mills River, NC 28759. (Click here for map/directions)
  • Dates/times for donation drop-offs:
    • October 7-11 and October 14-18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• We are in need of:
  • Water
  • Food: Non-perishable food items, canned goods (pop-top cans preferred that do not require a can opener and, especially ready-to-eat type products like spaghetti, ravioli, etc.). Shelf-stable products can also be protein bars, breakfast bars, healthy snacks and similar items.
  • Women’s hygiene products, and general hygiene products.
  • Baby diapers, baby formula and food, and baby wipes
  • Diapers (all ages) and incontinence products
  • Cleaning materials (bleach, trash bags, etc.)
• If you would like mail/ship supplies (Amazon, Instacart, etc.), our receiving address for deliveries is the same as our drop-off site: 99 Broadpointe Dr, Mills River, NC 28759.

• Donate your time as a volunteer:
  • Volunteer opportunities are now available at two locations. For safety purposes, we ask volunteers to please sign up online rather than arriving at either location without registering first. Volunteers must be 18 and older to serve at this time.
  • To sign up, please CLICK HERE to go to our Volunteer Portal and create an account to choose your shifts.
  
  
  • If you already have a CERVIS account with us, you can sign in here.

Q: What items should I NOT donate at this time?
A: We are not accepting:

• Clothing donations at this time. Other organizations are better set up to handle clothes, while our staff, volunteers, and capacity are all focused on food, water, and emergency supplies.  
• Food in glass containers. This can create a hazardous situation, since many different donations may be loaded into the same sorting bins.
• Expired Baby food/formula or any other expired products.

Q: I’d like to set up a large donation from a corporation/organization/other via wire/ACH transfer, whom should I contact?
A: Please email donatefunds@mannafoodbank.org and a representative from our team will reach out to you.

Q: What about MANNA’s Partner Agencies? Do you plan to distribute food to more rural communities through the partner network?
A: Yes, our team has been working hard to communicate with our partner agencies that are still operational across Western North Carolina. Our trucks have already been delivering food, water, and supplies to agencies throughout the region and our distribution efforts will reach all 16 counties within two weeks of standing up our new warehouse (October 18, 2024).