ASHEVILLE – MANNA FoodBank’s main distribution center and property mere yards from the Swannanoa River, was devastated by Tropical Storm Helene. But the nonprofit has received another major donation in its effort to recover from the storm and help feed those in need as the region rebuilds heading into winter.
On Dec. 18, the nonprofit received $1 million from Food Lion Feeds, a charitable foundation that is the philanthropic arm of the Food Lion grocery store chain. The grant will assist in recovery efforts and the rebuilding of MANNA’s services in Western North Carolina, according to a Dec. 18 news release from Food Lion Feeds. The food bank lost $28 million worth in assets after Helene wiped out the company’s primary location along Swannanoa River Road.
“My friend Sam told me that there was a ‘dancing elf’ greeting people at the entrance of the distribution center. I had to drive down here and dance with him,” Charlene Payne, right, of Fairview said after dancing with MANNA Food Bank volunteer John Bates, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, outside the North Carolina Agricultural Center in Fletcher. [Matthew Dae Smith/USA Today Network]
Asheville MANNA spokesperson Micah Chrisman said Asheville MANNA FoodBank is “super thankful to Food Lion for the incredible gift” as the company is still working to build back after Helene. Currently, the company has the goal of rebuilding a 15,400-square-foot freezer and refrigerator space, Chrisman said. The project is estimated to cost $6.5 million.
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The nonprofit is now using 10 refrigerator tractor-trailers instead of operating out of a traditional freezer, Chrisman said.
“Every dollar is going toward our recovery efforts and our operations,” Chrisman said.
Despite facing devastation from Helene, the nonprofit quickly activated in the first few weeks after the storm swept through WNC Sept. 27. Asheville MANNA distributed food to roughly 8,000 families during the first couple of weeks after the storm, Chrisman said. In November alone, the food bank distributed over 896,000 pounds of food, which is roughly over a million meals, he said. In 2023, Asheville MANNA on average distributed food to 158,000 families a month between 16 counties in Western North Carolina.
![MANNA FoodBank volunteers check people in, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, during a holiday meal pick up at the North Carolina Agricultural Center in Fletcher, NC..[Matthew Dae Smith/USA Today Network]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Fv52Kh46vMUTiUEgTwpkTQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU2OQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/asheville-citizen-times/298424e968dcf8f62aaea97b38a42091)
MANNA FoodBank volunteers check people in, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, during a holiday meal pick up at the North Carolina Agricultural Center in Fletcher, NC..[Matthew Dae Smith/USA Today Network]
On Dec. 18, the nonprofit distributed food to 800 families at the WNC Agricultural Center in a Holiday Meal Box Distribution event. The additional food will be distributed out to agency partners in surrounding counties, Chrisman said. For those who are looking for food during the holidays can go to MANNA Food Finder map, he said.
The donation comes on the heels of an influx of donations for the nonprofit. Including additional funding from the Duke Endowment that was announced on Dec. 17. The endowment donated $2 million that will be spread between MANNA Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Golden Harvest Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina to support emergency food distribution in the wake of Helene.
Monetary donations may be gifted at mannafoodbank.org. For food assistance, call 800-820-1109.
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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. Consider supporting this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville MANNA receives $1 million grant to support Helene rebuild
