MANNA has requested that the Cherokee Clay Food Alliance extend their partnership for the Student Weekend Wellness Bags for another two weeks.
MANNA has been setting up a new warehouse location in order to provide food to residents in Asheville and surrounding areas, and quickly get back to their normal distribution. The Student Weekend Wellness bags provide food to school-age children.
So far, thanks to the community, the Cherokee Clay Food Alliance has packed 50 family boxes that were donated to the Bellview Community Center, along with more than 500 Student Wellness Bags. They also received more than $2,500 in donations.
Items needed for the Student Weekend Wellness bags for the next two weeks include apple sauce pouches, fruit cups, cups of noodles, ramen packets, microwave mac and cheese cups, oatmeal cups, jerky sticks, juice boxes and nutritious, individually packaged snack options. Monetary donations for the purchase of these snacks can also be made to Cherokee Clay Food Alliance. Donations can be dropped off at the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.
Andrews Elementary School is holding a food drive to support the Andrews Food Bank. Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at Andrews Elementary School through Nov. 8. Items needed include peanut butter, canned goods, pasta, pasta sauces, vegetable oil, olive oil, spices and seasoning, pantry staples (flour, sugar, condiments), apple sauce, snack foods, crackers, fruit cups, granola bars and more.
These supplies will help to fill family boxes distributed at the Andrews Senior Center. The Andrews Food Bank also collects coats and blankets for children in the foster care system. Donations can be dropped off from 9:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Saturdays.
The Hiwassee Dam Senior Center and community center are other food distribution sites affected by the MANNA delays.
“It’s important to keep in mind that food insecurity is a long-term problem everywhere,” said Megan Lambert, president of the Cherokee Clay Food Alliance. “We are lucky to have an organization like MANNA, but it would be really great to find a way to reduce poverty and food insecurity overall.”