Manna Board President and Executive Director spent a wonderful day with fellow non-profit professionals at the AFP awards luncheon yesterday, honoring caring and giving philanthropists from around Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. It was especially exciting because our very own Capital Campaign Task Force member, Joanie Young, was among the worthy recipients. For the past five-decades the story of Joanie Young has been one of entrepreneurial vision coupled with a commitment towards improving her...
I received a call the other morning: a local backyard gardener was generously looking to donate “just picked” apples gleaned from his trees. Within a few hours he arrived at the pantry with buckets full of beautiful, crispy Red Delicious and Breaburn apples. The apples went right into the pantry and were distributed the very next day. In less than 48 hours wholesome fresh produce went from a local tree to the tables of families in need. I can’t wait to have larger refrigeration capacity in our...
To some, $1 may be an insignificant amount, not worth worry about. But, to a food pantry like Manna a single dollar is a powerful tool in the fight against hunger in the Conejo Valley. For every $1 donated, Manna is able to purchase $5 worth of food, and provide a hungry family or senior the nutrition they need when food runs low. But, it doesn’t have to stop with a dollar because the more you give the more impact your donation has to help. A $20 donation = 40 pounds of food and 80 meals. A $100...
A bright and shiny new gift is not always at the top of everyone’s holiday list. For 1 in 6 of our friends and neighbors who receive help from Manna, having enough food to eat throughout the holiday season is at the top of their wish list. During a typical holiday season Manna provides food to more than 1,500 food insecure households, enabling the recipients to prepare their own special holiday meal. The “Thanksgiving for All” program, held during Thanksgiving week, is in addition to our normal...