Support From Feeding America, Woodforest Charitable Foundation, and Mission Health Help MANNA Keep Food on the Table

Here at MANNA, our work to source and provide food to people across Western North Carolina with hope and dignity is our top priority. We could not do this vital work without the commitment and support from a large number of organizations and individuals. We would like to recognize the following organizations for their support:

Feeding America

Feeding America provided funding to help MANNA purchase a new commercial truck this year. The MANNA truck fleet is a core asset in our work to end hunger. It is paramount that we have safe, well maintained vehicles delivering food across 16 counties and picking up donations from food industry donors.

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, they provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Woodforest Charitable Foundation

Woodforest Charitable Foundation provided funding support for MANNA Packs for Kids, our most important child hunger program. In the 2015-2016 academic year, MANNA provided backpacks of food to almost 5,000 WNC children every week, at 149 schools across our 16-county service area. Woodforest Charitable Foundation’s support supplied the food for over 1,800 MANNA Packs.

Woodforest Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2005 and supported through generous donations from Woodforest National Bank and its employees, friends, and customers. The Foundation is committed to making a positive impact on communities and the lives of their citizens by contributing time, resources, and money to many worth charitable organizations. For more information about the Foundation, visit their website at www.wcf.org. 

Mission Health

Mission Health also provided funding support for MANNA Packs for Kids. These funds help MANNA to source and provide high-nutrient, healthy food to children who rely on free or reduced school meals. The backpacks are distributed on Fridays so these students have food over the weekend. Mission Health’s support provided the food for over 9,300 MANNA Packs.

Mission Health, based in Asheville, North Carolina, is the state’s sixth-largest health systema nd the region’s only not-for-profit, independent community hospital system governed and managed exclusively in Western North Carolina. Mission Health has been recognized as one of the nation’s Top 15 Health Systems 2012-2014 by Truven Health Analytics, formerly Thomson Reuters. Mission Health is the only medium-sized health system to receive this recognition three years in a row, and the only health system in North Carolina to achieve that distinction.

Mission Health, which traces its roots in the region back to 1885, operates six hospitals, numerous outpatient and surgery centers, post-acute care provider CarePartners, and the region’s only dedicated Level II trauma center. Its medical staff consists of more that 1,000 physicians and is certified in more than 50 medical specialties and sub-specialties. Mission Health has seven Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Heart, Mission Children’s Hospital, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Trauma, and Women’s Health. Mission Hospital, located in Asheville, is the system’s flagship hospital and is licensed for 795 beds. It is the regional referral center for tertiary and quaternary care. It also includes Mission Children’s Hospital – the region’s only children’s hospital. Other Mission Health member hospitals include Angel Medical Center in Franklin, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital in Highlands, McDowell Hospital in Marion, and Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard. With approximately 10,600 employees and 2,000 volunteers, Mission Health is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the people of Western North Carolina. For more information, please visit mission-health.org or @MissionHealthNC.