ASHEVILLE – The team at MANNA FoodBank, a regional nonprofit and food supplier for communities in 16 Western North Carolina counties, is rebuilding the organization from the ground up after Tropical Storm Helene wiped out its distribution center and headquarters.
Chief Executive Officer Claire Neal said the facility at 627 Swannanoa River Road, was devastated by the storm and flood waters from the Swannanoa River, resulting in the total loss of everything from food to warehouse equipment.
However, the community, sponsors, donors and volunteers have come out in droves to support, allowing MANNA to pivot and introduce temporary and new permanent distribution and donation sites.
“To go from the tragedy and the heartbreak our neighbors and everybody here has gone through to seeing the community rally around each other ― check on their neighbors and take care of each other and show up in full force here ― I get chills thinking about it. It has been truly wonderful,” Neal told the Citizen Times on Oct. 5.
MANNA is now accepting donations at its new facility at 99 Broadpointe Drive in Mills River, a former FedEx facility near Asheville Regional Airport.
What happened to MANNA
MANNA’s Director of Marketing and Communications Micah Chrisman said operations were suspended on Sept. 26 and 27. Food and the fleet of trucks were moved to higher ground in anticipation of the historic storm.
“Unfortunately, despite all these measures the facility was flooded all the way up to the rooftop, essentially, and rendered it completely inoperable,” Chrisman said.
He said the full extent of the damage wasn’t known until the assessment on Sept. 29-30, as reaching the property was challenging due to the decimation of a large portion of Swannanoa Road.
Neal said the area around the facility had flooded but hadn’t breached the interior until the recent storm waters ravaged the facility.
“Nobody expected what happened. That was just incredible,” Neal said.
Carside donation plan
Chrisman said MANNA “immediately shifted gears” and reached out to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, which offered to host MANNA’s temporary food distribution and donation operations at the WNC Farmers Market, at 570 Brevard Road.
On the morning of Oct. 1, MANNA launched a Hurricane Helene Relief asking for food and water donations and distribution aid to neighbors in need.
Chief Operating Officer Liz Hipps said by noon they were handing out food boxes curbside and by the end of the day had provided donation boxes to 135 families, and the next day, 1,724 families were served.
Chrisman said corporations, vendors, grocery store chains and anyone who had the means to give were asked to donate to replenish MANNA’s inventory. Feed America, the food bank’s national partner, delivered food from a Charlotte food bank affiliate, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.
The team said a great amount of donations have come from local community members.
MANNA’s truck fleet was not impacted, allowing the team to supply regional partners and transport goods to rural neighborhoods.
Chrisman said communication with some regional partners has been challenging but improving as more areas are finding means of connection.
As of Oct. 5, Jennifer Lutz, director of agency relations, said contact has been made with 120 of its more than 240 partners, and 78 agencies are fully operational.
Chrisman said the N.C. Department of Transportation is assisting MANNA’s drivers with finding open, safe routes to access other rural communities and partners.
Volunteering with MANNA
Hipps said there have been hundreds of volunteers and nearly 15 MANNA staff members have shown up to the WNC Farmers Market for donation intake, sorting and distribution.
Gwen Messer, of Leicester, regularly volunteers with MANNA and has been pitching in at the farmers market since last Tuesday.
“Everybody’s been so unbelievably upbeat and positive,” Messer said.
Hipps said many people have returned each day to volunteer with the nonprofit, and traveling in from surrounding areas.
“We’ve got people coming in from everywhere and they’re bringing in supplies and offering to stay and help which is amazing,” Hipps said.
How and what to donate to MANNA
MANNA is accepting donations only at the new Mills River facility and will be at the WNC Farmers for at least two more weeks for distributions.
Beginning Oct. 7, WNC Farmers Market distribution hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. MANNA is set up in the parking lot to the left of the entrance, just past Jesse Israel Nursery.
Donation and sorting operations will be relocated to a nearby site, to be announced.
Hipps said no donations are being turned away, including cleaning supplies and toiletries. However, MANNA’s critical needs include:
-
Shelf-stable food (pop-top cans preferred, not requiring a can opener).
-
Bottled water.
-
Baby and toddler formula, food and wipes.
-
Diapers.
“The people who are coming in needing supplies are so grateful,” Messer said. “We’re usually able to fill special requests like if they need baby items or bleach or paper towels.”
Messer recommends donors drop off donations earlier in the day so the team can sort and distribute throughout the day.
On the operational side, Hipps said MANNA needs office and warehouse equipment from trash cans to forklifts to racking.
Monetary donations may be gifted at mannafoodbank.org. For food assistance, call 800-820-1109.
Stories you may have missed:
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and covered the arts, entertainment and hospitality in Louisiana for several years. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: MANNA FoodBank pivots after losing facility in Tropical Storm Helene
