Three-year, $2.1 million grant builds capacity and improves access to fresh, nutritious food
PRESS RELEASE:
Dogwood Health Trust Media Contact: Erica Allison, Formation PR + Brand
[email protected] / 828-358-4867
MANNA FoodBank Media Contact: Micah Chrisman, Director of Marketing and Communications
[email protected] / 828-299-3663 Ext 1223
Asheville, N.C. – Dogwood Health Trust and MANNA FoodBank (MANNA) are partnering to improve and strengthen Western North Carolina’s food system. MANNA connects the food industry, partner food pantries and other human service organizations to get food to thousands of families’ tables. Due to increasing community need, MANNA and partnering pantries are purchasing more food than ever before, highlighting how important it is to coordinate resources and increase collaboration. A three-year, $2.1 million grant investment from Dogwood will help food pantries expand their capacity, and in turn increase the access to and quality of local food for more people in the region. Within this effort, $1.4 million will help to support operational costs for more than 100 partner agencies within MANNA’s network. The remaining $700,000 will build “Our Farms, Our Families” programs that support both socially disadvantaged farmers and local families in need.
“At MANNA, we witness firsthand the profound impact that access to nutritious food has on the lives of our neighbors in Western North Carolina. In times of economic hardship, the burden on families and local farmers can be overwhelming,” said Claire Neal, CEO of MANNA FoodBank. “This partnership with Dogwood Health Trust is not just an investment in our food systems—it’s an investment in hope. By eliminating financial barriers for our partner pantries and enhancing access between those who grow our food and those who need it most, we are empowering our entire community.”
A portion of this grant will redirect resources for food pantries served by MANNA through the elimination of Shared Maintenance Fees, which were historically applied to transportation, storage, and food handling expenses. For the next three years partner pantries will not need to pay these fees and can instead use their resources to meet other organizational needs that ultimately result in providing good food, like fresh, local produce, to an increasing number of WNC residents. While this shift creates a budget-neutral opportunity for MANNA, it is budget-relieving for more than 100 partnering food agencies. Importantly, the effort also helps pantries move to a “choice” shopping experience, enabling individuals to choose the food that they want, rather than receiving a pre-packed box of food. This approach upholds dignity and significantly reduces waste. The funds will also increase access to local food and subscription boxes, helping support farmers economically and provide healthy food to those in need.
“Strengthening organizations like MANNA and their network of partners is helping secure healthy, locally produced food for more people, which in turn supports our WNC farmers and economy,” said Dr. Susan Mims, CEO of Dogwood Heath Trust. “We are hopeful that this creative and caring network will improve food distribution to our neighbors across Western North Carolina, especially in rural areas.”
Since inception, Dogwood Health Trust has invested more than $6.5 million in Western North Carolina food systems.
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About Dogwood Health Trust
Dogwood Health Trust is a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina with the sole purpose of dramatically improving the health and wellbeing of all people and communities of 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina. Dogwood Health Trust focuses on innovative and equitable ways to address the many factors that contribute to overall health and wellbeing, with a focus on housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness. Dogwood Health Trust works to create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all, no exceptions. To learn more, please visit www.dht.org.
About MANNA FoodBank
MANNA FoodBank is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving Western North Carolina since 1983. As an accredited member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization, the mission of MANNA FoodBank is to involve, educate, and unite people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina. MANNA works with over 300 community-based nonprofit food assistance partner agencies in 16 Western North Carolina counties including the Qualla Boundary and distributed 21.1 million pounds of food in 2023/2024. MANNA is a nonpartisan organization committed to sharing facts and information about issues related to hunger in Western North Carolina and how they affect those we serve. For more information, visit MANNAFoodbank.org, or call 828-299-FOOD.
