Celebrating National Nutrition Month

Nourishing Our Bodies, Nurturing Our Well-Being

March marks the celebration of National Nutrition Month, a time dedicated to promoting the importance of healthy eating and informed food choices. At MANNA, we recognize the pivotal role that nutrition plays in supporting the health and well-being of individuals and communities across Western North Carolina.

Fresh produce from Root Cause Farm at a recent Fairview Community Market.

Embracing Nutritional Wellness

National Nutrition Month serves as a poignant reminder of the significance of nutritious foods in promoting overall health and vitality. From fresh fruits and vegetables to whole grains and lean proteins, every food choice contributes to nourishing our bodies and enhancing our well-being. North Carolinians experience a higher rate of health issues than the national average, and the Appalachian region of the state again outpaces even the state’s higher rates. The connection of hunger to chronic health issues is clear: processed, sugar-laden foods are far more affordable than nutritious foods, and thus more accessible and easier on a household budget already struggling to afford basic groceries.

Educating and Empowering

At MANNA, we are committed to empowering individuals and families with the knowledge and resources needed to make healthier food choices. Through our nutrition education programs, online cooking workshops, and community outreach initiatives, we provide practical tools and valuable insights to help individuals adopt healthier eating habits and lead healthier lives. Our Nutrition Works team not only works to ensure that we are providing neighbors with nutrient-dense and calorie-dense foods, but also recipes that provide clients with a tasty way to cook up the food that they are bringing home from our mobile markets.

Enjoy this series of simple, healthy recipes from MANNA. (Playlist here)

Nourishing Our Communities

We recognize that access to nutritious foods is essential for building healthy communities. Through our network of partner agencies and community collaborations, we work tirelessly to ensure that nutritious food is accessible and available to individuals and families facing food insecurity in Western North Carolina. By addressing the root causes of hunger and promoting access to healthy food options, we strive to create a healthier and more equitable community for all.

Taking Action

As we celebrate National Nutrition Month, let’s take meaningful steps toward prioritizing our health and well-being. Whether it’s incorporating more fresh produce into our diets, exploring new recipes, or learning about healthy cooking techniques, every positive choice we make contributes to our overall health and vitality.

Together, let’s harness the power of nutrition to nourish our bodies, nurture our well-being, and build healthier communities across Western North Carolina and beyond.

SNAP participants are able to receive double their SNAP dollars for fresh produce at local farmers’ markets, thanks to a program by ASAP.

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2024-07-25

Rural Resiliency: The Beauty of Rural Communities Coming Together

Within the awe and majesty of the WNC mountains, there is an even deeper beauty that reveals itself when rural communities come together to feed their Neighbors. After driving two hours west of Buncombe County, I found myself at a MANNA Community Market along the Nantahala River in Topton, NC.

There, I met Patty Waters, the site organizer and community advocate. Patty, along with over a dozen volunteers, diligently provide canned goods and fresh produce once a month to over 100 families who drive to their location from across the area. From mothers with newborn children to senior citizens, the ages of people visiting spanned across all generations—showing that food insecurity truly impacts everyone.

“Folks who live here have to drive over 30 minutes in any direction to get food or medicine,” said Patty. “For many of these families, this is their only local access to fresh food. We knew we had to do something about this food desert, so we partnered with MANNA back in 2021 to launch this distribution site… and words cannot express how much of an impact it’s had on our community.”

I watched as kids with bright smiles reached for bags of rice, beans, potatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes and placed them into their carts—eager to help their parents shop for groceries. A middle-aged woman lit up when she found her favorite truffle sauce to compliment her dinner recipe that she planned to cook that evening. From basic food necessities to the simple luxuries of seasonings and ingredients, I was reminded at Nantahala that the power of community resiliency is revealed in the beauty of togetherness.

—Micah Chrisman, Director of Marketing & Communications at MANNA FoodBank

Hear Patty Waters’ Story Below:

2024-05-29

The State of Hunger: A Note From Our CEO, Claire Neal

Today I reach out to you not as the CEO of MANNA FoodBank, but as a fellow community member deeply invested in the well-being of our neighbors across Western North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary. We are so grateful for you and how you faithfully come alongside to support our neighbor in need.

We want to share a brief update on the current state of hunger within our communities which is more pressing than ever. The rising costs of living—rent, utilities, food, and gas—have forced an additional 18.2% of our neighbors to seek our help this year. This staggering statistic translates to an average of 162,000+ individuals depending on MANNA and our incredible partner network each month. To put it into perspective, MANNA is currently serving more people than during the height of the 2020 shutdown and in fact the highest in our 40-year history.

The Volunteer Center Floor at MANNA

Conversely, as disaster relief funds are going away, MANNA is not able to purchase as much food as we did during the pandemic without relief funding. Although we are working extremely hard to increase the amount of donated food, we have yet to reach our pre-pandemic levels of food donations.

Although we are on track to provide approximately 21.2 million pounds of food or the equivalent of 17.1 million meals this year, a 6% increase over last year, we are still deeply concerned that the amount of food that we are able to provide is not keeping pace with the 18.2% increase in the number of our neighbors who are in great need of our support.

Our communities are a tapestry woven with individuals each with their unique lived experiences—those working lower-wage jobs, seniors on fixed incomes, single parents striving to feed their children, individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities, and those facing situational poverty. Even those who once managed to make ends meet are now one unexpected expense away from not knowing where their next meals are coming from.

We are inspired and awed by the challenges that we have overcome because of your care and compassion and are reminded on a daily basis about what is possible when good people share the same ethos.

Additionally, we are energized in knowing that because we can provide four meals for $1.00, every single dollar matters. It is beautiful to envision our neighbors enjoying salads, sandwiches, and Sunday morning breakfasts together as we do. Your support truly is an act of kindness that reverberates throughout our communities across WNC and the Qualla Boundary.

With heartfelt thanks and much hope for the future,

—Claire Neal

Every dollar counts. If you feel called to support our mission, donations can easily be made here:

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