MANNA’S EVENTS

Blue Jean Ball

Blue Jean Ball 2017: Pirates of the Swannanoa

Blue Jean Ball 2018: ALOHA from the Swannanoa

Blue Jean Ball 2019: 20th Anniversary: FOODSTOCK

The Blue Jean Ball is held outside MANNA’s warehouses along the banks of the Swannanoa River. Ticket holders enjoy small tasting plates from Asheville’s finest restaurants and caterers, a varied selection of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages, and great live music that packs the dance floor every year.

The Blue Jean Ball is MANNA’s largest fundraising event. Every dollar raised or donated to the food bank helps provide enough food for 4 meals. Current estimates in our region indicate that over 100,000 people in Western North Carolina don’t have continuous access to three square meals a day. MANNA partners with 200+ agencies throughout our region to get food to those facing hunger.

Update: Although we are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel in terms the COVID-19 pandemic, our work to feed more people than ever has continued, and we know that we are not quite able to come together for Asheville’s very best “party with a purpose”. We are already dreaming about the day when we can gather 1,000 of our close friends again, and what a CELEBRATION it will be!

To our long-time Blue Jean Ball supporters, guests, sponsors, and culinary partners – we have high hopes that we’ll be able to be together again in in the near future, and we thank you for your abiding friendship and support for those facing food insecurity across WNC. We could not do it without you.

To keep this amazing event alive in your hearts and minds, we invite you to take a walk down memory lane as a reminder of all of the incredible food, fun, and festivities we’ve had!

Empty Bowls

This unique and memorable event celebrates community, art, and collaboration while bringing awareness to the very real problem of hunger. Attendees choose a bowl handmade by local artisans and enjoy a meal of soup, bread, and dessert. The souvenir bowl they take home reminds them of all the empty bowls in the world.

Everything for the event is donated: the soup, the event space, the desserts, and over 1,000 bowls.  This allows for all the profits to go directly toward feeding our neighbors facing hunger in Western North Carolina.

In addition to the bowls that each ticket holder can select and take home, there is a collector’s corner at Empty Bowls, where special bowls selected by the artists are available for purchase.  One hundred percent of the purchase price of these works of art goes to provide food throughout MANNA’s 16-county service area.

Third-Party Events

Are you an individual, group or organization that wants to hold a benefit or fundraising event for MANNA? If so, please email Kelly Schwartz, Special Events Manager.

Food Drives

Interested in hosting a food drive? Check out all the information you’ll need to get started here!