Down the drain

It can drive our young volunteers crazy. A donation of soda comes in to Manna, and they ask what to do with it. We instruct them to take it back to the kitchen and pour it down the drain. They protest:

- It' still good
- Why waste it
- I'll take it home

We then explain that part of our mission is to provide healthy choices for our guests (and our volunteers). And while our diners may choose to consume soda and other unhealthy items on their own, we want to show them that we care about their well being. It also demonstrates our conviction to nudge our clients toward making sensible choices when it comes to their diet...

Stowe Away

The total time invested was about 20 minutes. A young woman arrived at Manna, someone we had not seen before, and she looked troubled. We learned that she had hitch-hiked her way from Florida, with the destination being New York city. She was traveling with a male companion that had become abusive. All she wanted to do was to get back home, but she didn't know how she would be able to get away without him knowing.

Our case manager, Nadja, worked quickly. She talked with Barry, our food service manager and the two of them whisked the girl out to Manna's van. Not wanting to be seen, the girl lay on the van's floor while she was driven to the train station. As they arrived at the station, the train was about to depart, so Barry stalled them long enough for Nadja to buy a ticket and rush the girl onto the train. Already, Nadja had made arrangements with another social service organization in Philadelphia to assure that the girl would find her way to her home in Florida.

Many things, often unseen, happen in the midst of our days...

Our Kids

Some people are incredulous when they learn that every school day, we send 200 healthy snacks to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Lansdale and Souderton. The Club has an after-school homework program for disadvantaged youth. The kids arrive at The Club hungry after a long day of school, their lunch period long forgotten. They need a little energy boost to concentrate on their school work and so that's what we provide them.

More than one person has asked why we spend our own money to prepare food that supports another agency's program. They miss the point. We're not supporting programs, we're feeding kids in need. Just because the children wind up at a different facility doesn't change the reality that they're still our kids...

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, yes

That's about the ratio - 8 nos for every 1 yes. On average, we receive about 100 requests for financial help each month, and the dominating response is no. The reasons are varied:

• no, you're outside our service area
• no, we're temporarily out of funding
• no, we don't cover car repair bills
  
• no, you didn't tell us the truth about your finances
• no, even if we pay all you bills now, next month you will be in the same situation

It is frustrating for the those that come for help. For the most part, their needs are genuine, and we are often their last hope for support. For us, it is especially difficult denying them aid for necessary items like heating oil, knowing it's not a luxury item, but a matter of staying warm. Still, we are all thankful for the times we can say yes...

Who is Filled?

When someone in need is served a meal, who benefits... the one serving or the one being served.

Certainly the person receiving the meal is grateful. For many of the people that find their way to Manna, the food they receive is their primary meal for the day. Without us, they may not starve, but they would undoubtedly suffer.

But for the more than 1,500 volunteers that come through our doors, it could be argued that they are the ones most satisfied by the experience. The joy of making someone's day brighter is powerful, not just in providing a meal, but in sharing a word of encouragement or leading the way to laughter. Volunteers often wait for months, just to have the opportunity to serve.

At the end of each day, everyone is filled...

Back to the Routine

Life at Manna has returned to normal (the term normal difficult to define).

Only a few weeks ago it was:

• gathering food for holiday baskets
• coordinating parties and events
• distributing Christmas gifts
  

Today, a typical day includes:

• arriving early to put on the soup and meal
• scheduling and training volunteers that want to serve
• fielding phone calls

For the people we serve, it is also a return to their "normal":

• thinking about food for the next meal
• ignoring the thermostat, because they're out of oil
• wondering if the prescription will ever be filled

The new normal is often easier for us. Less running around, consuming less food, simplifying our lives. For those in need, no necessarily so...

Unwrapping Gifts

Over the holidays, you may have had the experience of watching the opening of gifts. There are probably a numbers of ways to go about it, but with a child, there's usually just one way: tearing madly to find what is hidden beneath the wrapping.

As we move into the gift that is the New Year, we proceed with the same energy, the same excitement, tearing away the wrapping to discover what lies beneath, with the hope of finding new ways to grow in serving our community...