Napkin Etiquette

A number of years ago, a friend of mine was volunteering for another organization, helping set up for a dinner benefit. The instructions from the staff member in charge were simple enough - set out plates, napkins and silverware. A mom and her daughter were walking around with the napkins, folding them in half, while my friend followed behind them with the silverware. They were about half-way finished when the staff member came back and began chastising them for not folding the napkins properly - they were supposed to have been folded corner-to-corner.

When I share this story with staff members and volunteers at Manna on Main Street they have to laugh because it's so contrary to how we do things here. We ask our helpers to do things like they do at home. We are not so concerned with how people are fed, but that everyone is fed. So the Tuesday volunteers might have a different method of serving than the Wednesday crew, but that doesn't matter. By doing it their own way, they have a greater sense of ownership. And in the end, everyone is satisfied.

Ten Years After

From Jean...

I honestly don’t know what I would have done without Manna on Main Street.

Starting 10 years ago when I was very ill,my friend, Pete, introduced me to Dolly. I had moved into Lansdale, had 2 teenagers to raise while I was going threw a few years of Chemotherapy and spending weeks at a time in Philadelphia Hospital.

I wasn’t expected to live so the doctors slammed me with all kinds of chemotherapy. I was so sick and Dolly kept a close eye on me and my children. Manna helped so much with transportation to the hospital, picking up medications, bringing me food, helping pay bills. For awhile I was unable to get out of bed.

When I could I wanted so much to do something for Manna. I noticed that there was a lot of area I could garden. So much beautiful work is done inside; I wanted to make it beautiful outside. I was still on Chemotherapy so I had to avoid the sun. I usually gardened from 1 am till about 5:30 am, just me and my dog, Sparky.

I put flowers everywhere I could and even ended up putting them around the church.

Without the help of Mana, gardening therapy and the treasured friendship of Dolly. I could have never gone threw what I did, while raising my children (Who are doing great and have given me 5 grandchildren).

The doctors tell me that it is amazing I survived.

I know that without Manna, St. John’s Church, Dolly, friends, my children and especially all of your prayers; I would not be standing in front of this beautiful garden now, 10 years later.

Anticipation

Why would anyone be standing around watching a cow, waiting for it to "plop" on a particular piece of ground. The reason is simple - it was the Annual Cow Plop, a fund raising event sponsored by the Merck Sharpe & Dohme Federal Credit Union. They sell deeds for $10 each which are plotted out on a field. A cow is set free, and when the cow plops on a site, the winner receives 20% of the total proceeds (this year over $6,000). The rest of the funds go to Manna on Main Street and another local food cupboard to help with hunger relief. This is just another example of how our creative community finds ways to give back and make a difference in the lives of people in need.

Enough is Enougn (sometimes)

People come to us every day looking for financial aid. They need oil for their home, assistance with rent or utilities, or help with medical bills. Some folks come back to us more than once, and it can be difficult deciding when to stop helping someone. There are times, however, when $5 in aid can be too much (when able-bodied, able-minded adults continue to make bad choices) and when $1,000 can be not enough (when kids or the elderly are victims of circumstances). We have policies in place to provide rough boundaries, but policies and procedures can also be barriers - we still must listen with a caring heart... and an attentive mind.

Chaos Theory

Sometimes we use the phrase “chaos is good.” We don’t mean that in the context of how we do our planning or structure programs, but in the situations that arise out of the daily activities in our soup kitchen. A case in point is from last Thursday, when ten high-energy teenagers from Tohickon Middle School arrived to help serve the afternoon meal. If you haven’t been inside Manna on Main Street, the amount of operating space we have is very small, and in a short period of time, chaos ensued. Teens were crammed in the kitchen, then running with plates of food along a cramped hallway to a crowded eating area. A group of the kids wound of going outside and working at a card table to put together snack bags for the local Boys & Girls Club. Naturally, they couldn’t stay outside all the time, and were running in and out. And as the time for serving came to a close, there was a mad scramble for colored markers as the youth found an open space on the wall to sign their names. While it may seem unstructured and out of control, a lot of good comes out it. Young people learn about serving people in need, perform vital hands-on service and have some fun along the way.

Gangs on Call

We're pretty fortunate. Whenever we run low on food for our pantry, we have a number of groups we can call for help. For the past couple of years the Iron Eagles Motorcycle Club has been amazing in their support. We call them and they show up with a truck-load of food. At the same time, we try not to go back to the same people too frequently. They have families to support too.

The spirit of giving is a real reflection on the kind of community we live in. When people become aware of the needs, they respond in big way. As you can imagine, the need for food has risen dramatically. We've been running low on canned tuna fish and would really appreciate having that available for the families who come to Manna for food. So now that you're in the know, help if you can, and pass this message along. Thanks!

Summer Help

His mother wanted him to have something to do this this summer, and so Alex wound up coming in to Manna on Main Street, 8 hours a day, three days a week. At first he wasn't sure how everything would work out, but it wasn't too long before he started feeling at home.

Alex helped with cooking food and serving, but what he enjoyed most was the people. By the end of the summer, Alex was concerned that he wouldn't be here to help his new friend Harry, an older gentleman who helps stock our shelves.

Alex is just another example of how young people become involved and help make a difference in our community.