Manna on Main Street, born in the basement of St. John’s United Church of Christ in 1981, held a 40th Anniversary Celebration and Campaign Launch on May 12 in North Penn Commons. Over 100 people attended the ticketed event, which was an opportunity to celebrate Manna’s first 40 years and launch a new, bold 10-year campaign called “A North Penn Where No One Is Hungry.”
With the generous support of the community over four decades, Manna has grown to become the North Penn area’s largest nonprofit working to end hunger. Manna’s programs include a soup kitchen, food pantry, emergency financial assistance and Common Grounds Training Program.
Participants at Thursday’s event enjoyed multiple performances by local artists and a delicious dinner prepared and served by Manna’s culinary staff and Common Grounds Training Program trainees and graduates.
In addition to celebrating all the hard work of Manna and its many stakeholders and partners over the past 40 years, Manna looked ahead by announcing the launch of a new, bold 10-year Campaign: A North Penn Where No One Is Hungry.
“The pandemic and its impacts have presented challenges unlike any we had previously faced,” said Suzan Neiger Gould, Manna’s executive director. “Manna has met those challenges by building capacity, identifying resources, creating new ways to operate programs, and responding to the essential need to serve our diverse community with equity and dignity.”
In fact, for the past two years, Manna has provided significantly more meals and groceries to persons in need as compared to pre-pandemic operations. Manna has stewarded over $7 million in emergency rental and utility assistance in federal funds as a nonprofit partner of Your Way Home Montgomery County, and Manna’s Common Grounds Training Program continues to graduate individuals who are advancing their career in the foodservice industry.
“Again and again, Manna has proved itself capable of adapting and growing to more deeply serve those in need of food and other resources in the North Penn region,” said Sheldon C. Good, Manna’s director of development and strategic direction. “The fulfillment of why Manna was created — ‘that everyone might be fed’ — is within reach. Together, we can create ‘a North Penn where no one is hungry.’”
In his remarks at the event, Bruce Michelson, chair of Manna’s board of directors, thanked guests and the entire community for its support over many years and invited them to invest in the campaign with time, talent, and financial support.
“We are so fortunate to live and operate in such a generous community, and you all are among the most generous,” Michelson said.
Manna has proven to be a nimble, resilient organization that can quickly adapt and scale programs and services, Michelson continued, and with this campaign, Manna will continue to do so in order to reach more persons in need in the North Penn region.
More information on the campaign is available at mannaonmain.org.
Several honored guests attended and spoke at the event, including Montgomery County Commissioner Chair Val Arkoosh, State Senator Maria Collett, Lansdale Mayor Garry Herbert, State Representative Steve Malagari and Chief Michael Trail of the Lansdale Borough Police Department.
Kareem Afzal and Nihad Kaiseruddin are Manna’s Inaugural Campaign Launch Sponsors. An additional 12 individuals and organizations are Campaign Launch Sponsors.
Manna is committed to ending hunger in the North Penn region by providing food, fulfilling social service and education needs, and conducting community outreach. Through a food pantry and soup kitchen, emergency financial aid, counseling and referrals, and education opportunities, Manna serves those in need with the hope that everyone might be fed.
Along with Advanced Living Communities, the North Penn YMCA, and The PEAK Center, Manna is a founding partner of North Penn Commons.
See also:
Last Chance to Register for Manna’s Race to End Hunger, Event Scheduled for April 2
Online 'Auction To End Hunger' Benefits Manna on Main Street
Manna on Main Street to Receive 100 Holiday Hams Courtesy of Giant Food Stores
Manna on Main Street Receives Donation of Refrigerated Van from Whole Foods Market
Manna on Main Street Wins Philabundance Hunger Hero Award
