MANNA knows with first-hand experience the barriers that its WNC neighbors face when it comes to accessing food, and specifically, fresh produce and other healthy foods.
It is easy to do the math: If someone has $5 they can spend on food for the day, they are much likely to buy the fast food value meal than a pint of organic blueberries. This is why they focus so much of their efforts on fresh food sourcing and fast delivery.
But the importance of food in our lives stretches beyond the nutrition we receive with each bite, and there are other foods that are also inaccessible to families struggling just to fill their daily dietary needs.
At a recent pop-up market in Avery County, food distribution activity had settled down and there were just a few cakes left. A young mother came up and asked for one of the last birthday cakes. She explained how her daughter had just turned six years old, but they did not throw her a party because they were embarrassed they couldn’t afford a cake. The mom went on to say that they would now be able to have her 6th birthday party, and was so excited to be able to make this happen for her daughter.
It is why MANNA makes no apologies for their birthday cakes. For a family living on the edge, a birthday cake can be an extravagance in the budget. The moment they can hand a beautifully decorated birthday cake to a parent of a young child, and see the relief, and gratitude in their eyes, knowing they will be able to give their child the birthday celebration they hope for, MANNA sees the moments that you are making happen for thousands of families across WNC, every single day.
As much as MANNA is dedicated to providing nourishing food every day, they will never underestimate the power of a birthday cake.
Visit the MANNA FoodBank website to help our neighbors receive the help they need.