Manna Food Center
9311 Gaither Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
301-424-1130  |  info@mannafood.org
Just 2 blocks off of Shady Grove

United Way #8846
CFC #23028

   

About Manna

Mission

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy.

About Manna Food Center

Manna Food Center is the main food bank in Montgomery County, and nearly every county nonprofit organization relies on Manna to provide essential food to their clients. Manna is that rare organization that actually achieves synergy by bringing together government, corporations, nonprofit organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, community groups, and individuals with the common cause of fighting hunger in Montgomery County.

Founded in 1983, Manna Food Center strives to end hunger in Montgomery County through education, advocacy, and food distribution. Since our founding, Manna has distributed more than 43 million pounds of food to more than 2.7 million individuals in our community. We provided food to 5% of Montgomery County residents facing the hardship hunger this past year.

Through our regular distribution program, Manna feeds about 3,300 families each month at fourteen locations throughout the county. Manna provides each family with a three-to-five day supply of perishable and shelf-stable food.

Hunger is a hidden, but prevalent problem in Montgomery County. One of every four county residents is at risk of hunger and 32.3% of all MCPS students qualify for a free or reduced price meal, an indication of the poverty we face daily in our community.

Manna also provides food through our agency distribution program at no charge to 48 Montgomery County soup kitchens, food pantries, group homes, and emergency shelters.

Manna's innovative Smart Sacks program pairs a business or organization with a nearby elementary school. Together we provide a bag of kid-friendly food to over 2,000 elementary school children each week at more than 50 schools. The children receive their food on Fridays so they have food on the weekend when there are no school meals to sustain them.

We rely on the generosity of our community to fight hunger. Ninety-six cents of every donated dollar goes directly to feeding our hungry neighbors.

You can help. Donate food, funds or volunteer to help us fight hunger and feed hope in Montgomery County.

Our Programs

Manna has three primary programs:

Food Distribution to Families

Manna's regular food distribution program feeds approximately 3,300 families each month. Every client is referred to Manna through one of our partnerships with 360 different organizations. Clients may pick up food every 30 days at one of Manna's distribution sites located all across Montgomery County. They receive a 3-5 day supply of perishable and shelf-stable food. We also deliver food directly to several low-income apartment complexes and community centers across the county.

Smart Sacks

In 2005, Manna founded Smart Sacks which partners Manna, local businesses and organizations with elementary schools. Together we provide the children with backpacks full of kid-friendly food every Friday so they have food on the weekends when there are no school meals to sustain them.

Food Distribution to Agencies

Manna also provides food to dozens of Montgomery County agencies including soup kitchens, food pantries, group homes, and emergency shelters throughout Montgomery County. These agencies have limited funds to address the root causes of poverty and hunger.