G I V I NG B ACK
sharing thankfulness By Taylor Lieberstein
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ovember generally brings to mind the beginning of the holiday season. Thanksgiving menus are planned, arrangements to gather with family are made. Travel plans are booked, anticipation grows. Due to the coronavirus, many of us are questioning our usual way of celebrating the holiday for giving thanks. Not being able to enjoy a hearty meal with our loved ones might be frustrating, but there are many in our community who may have much larger worries. Several ministries in the Clarksville area work throughout the year to offer assistance to families who may be in a time of need. They offer food boxes, hot meals, clothing, utility assistance, and more. Sometimes the public assumes that these ministries are only serving our homeless population, but that assumption is incorrect. Manna Cafe, The Well, and Loaves and Fishes are just a few of the organizations in our community who are hard at work to help provide for our neighbors, and make sure that this Thanksgiving everyone has something to be grateful for.
By Paige Eisemann According to their website, Manna Café was chartered as a non-profit in February 2009; and shortly after the flood of 2010 Manna Café served its first mobile, outdoor hot meal to 35 guests in Clarksville. Since then, Manna Café has grown exponentially. One meal per week has become four, with peak attendance at 200+ people at a single meal. The Food Box Distribution Program (much like a large food pantry) grew from 200 food boxes in May 2010 to more than 25,000 boxes in 2014. In a single year, Manna Café distributes 1.8 million pounds of food to local families. Food insecurity in Montgomery County involves more than 15% of the population (about 28,000 people). The percentage for children is 21.5%, a third of whom are not income-eligible for federal programs such as free school lunches. Their goal is to first meet people’s basic need for food, and then guide them toward positive, permanent change. The ministry is working to create Manna Village in New Providence, which will be the home of Manna Café’s main operations, such as food box distribution, storage, and office space. They still go into the community to do our community-based programs, such as Mobile Cafés and Mobile Pantries. The Manna Village will be a centralized location to serve people with multiple resources. They are working to meet this challenge: even when agencies are willing to work together, people still have to find a way to get from one agency to the next. This means that the folks who have the fewest resources have to drive from agency to agency for help — if they’re lucky enough to have a car. If they don’t have a car, they might spend several hours walking or riding the bus to organizations where they may or may not get assistance.
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Clarksville Living
Manna Café is creating a community of likeminded people and agencies who are committed to restoring the lives of those who need to get on their feet. What does this mean for Thanksgiving, especially in the year of COVID-19? This means there are even MORE people who are reaching out for help. Manna continues food distribution on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10AM-4PM. Hot meals will continue on Tuesday and Thursday Evenings as well Saturday mornings in the usual locations but will be distributed as to-go boxes only. In addition, Manna Café will add a Wednesday and Thursday evening hot meal at the Refuge Center (503 D. Street, in the Manna Village). COVID has increased the need for support for Manna, and they offer many ways for you and your family to be a part of their ministry. Manna Cafe’s mission is only made possible by
the tireless work of hundreds of volunteers. They are always looking for more people to join their volunteer team. Some of the most pressing needs for November call for regular, consistent help (even one day per week). Those areas include drivers, office help, warehouse help, kitchen/ cooking help, caseworkers, handymen, and groundskeeper/ landscapers. If you are unable to volunteer but
