Manna-The Durango Soup Kitchen

THE MISSION OF MANNA SOUP KITCHEN IS TO PROVIDE, IN THE SPIRIT OF FAITH AND LOVE, NOURISHING MEALS AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF ACCEPTANCE AND CARING FOR THOSE IN NEED.

RESOURCE CENTER PROGRAM. ON MARCH 28, 2022 WE LAUNCHED THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN WITH TAKE-OUT WINDOW/FOOD MARKET AND RESOURCE CENTER. MANNA'S NEW MODEL PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT, OUTREACH AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR FAMILIES/INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE, MARGINALIZED, HOMELESS AND/OR AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN LA PLATA COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. WE CONNECT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH CORE SERVICES THAT HELP PEOPLE MEET BASIC NEEDS, CASE MANAGEMENT AND POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT TO HELP THEM REACH THEIR GOALS. MANNA'S BILINGUAL (SPANISH/ENGLISH) NAVIGATOR AND OUTREACH POSITION IS AN ADVOCATE AND LIAISON FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS THAT OVERCOMES LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND SUPPORTS AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. RESOURCE CENTER NAVIGATORS PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, SERVICE NAVIGATION, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, JOB DEVELOPMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT AND POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT TO HELP PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS OVERCOME SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BARRIERS AND HELP THEM BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. MANNA HAS SERVED 1,409 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

COMMUNITY KITCHEN PROGRAM. THE TAKE-OUT WINDOW ALLOWS FOR MORE EQUITABLE FOOD ACCESS AND CENTERS AROUND PARTICIPANT CHOICE. IT IS OPEN SIX DAYS A WEEK, FOUR HOURS A DAY. EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO RECEIVE MEALS WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED AND NO FORMS TO BE FILLED OUT. PEOPLE CAN SELECT A VARIETY OF FOOD OPTIONS. IN 2022, 84,984 MEALS WERE DISTRIBUTED. MANNA ESTIMATES THAT 2,500 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN SERVED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. MANNAS FREE FOOD MARKET IS SET UP LIKE A GROCERY STORE WITH REFRIGERATORS, PRODUCE, BULK FOOD SECTION AND SHOPPING CARTS. PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO FREELY SELECT FROM AN ARRAY OF NUTRITIOUS FOODS BASED ON DIETARY NEEDS, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND DESIRED FOOD CHOICES. FOOD MARKET IS OPEN FOUR DAYS A WEEK AND THE HOURS OF OPERATION ACCOMMODATE THOSE ON VARIED WORK/SCHOOL SCHEDULES. IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE FOOD MARKET, PARTICIPANTS HAVE AN INITIAL MEETING WITH A RESOURCE CENTER NAVIGATOR WHO CONDUCTS A NEEDS ASSESSMENT. THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS ESSENTIAL IN HELPING MANNA CONNECT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH SERVICES AND REFERRALS. IN 2022, 5,378 VISITS TO FOOD MARKET AND 110,453 POUNDS OF FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED.

GARDEN PROGRAM. MANNA GROWS VEGETABLES AND FRUITS USED TO PREPARE THE DAILY MEALS AND DISTRIBUTE IN THE FREE FOOD MARKET. IN 2022, MANNA GREW 5,760 POUNDS OF PRODUCE. THE MAINTENANCE AND EXPANSION OF THE MANNA GARDEN HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS. MANNA IS DEDICATED TO KEEPING THE GARDEN NOT ONLY PRODUCTIVE, SO IT CAN BENEFIT FOOD INSECURE FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTY, BUT ALSO INTERACTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. MANNA HAS JUST COMPLETED BUILDING AN OUTDOOR PAVILION IN THE GARDEN WHICH PROVIDES THE COMMUNITY WITH SPACE TO SHARE A MEAL, HOST EDUCATIONAL CLASSES/MEETINGS AND AN ADA ACCESSIBLE WALKWAY THROUGH THE PAVILION, GAZEBO AND GREENHOUSE. MANNA HAS ALSO ADDED KIDS GARDEN BEDS, POTTING BENCHES, AND TOOLS PROVIDING THE NEEDED RESOURCES TO FUNCTION AS AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM TO HOST ON-SITE GARDEN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND PROVIDE A FUN, SAFE, ACTIVITY-BASED PLAY AREA FOR YOUTH.