MANNA has some new digs that could double its impact

After 27 years of serving meals to those living with illnesses such as HIV/AIDS and cancer, Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA) to move on to bigger things.

Starting with space. Beginning today, MANNA’s volunteer-run operation will now be located on 20th Street in Fairmount, about a mile North from the nonprofit’s old Rittenhouse stomping ground.

Strange having a bare kitchen! You can catch us on 420 N. 20th St. on April 10th when we'll be all moved in and open for volunteers shifts! pic.twitter.com/RU5ZjvkfNa

— MANNA (@MANNANourishes) March 27, 2017

According to a press release, MANNA’s new space will allow the nonprofit to grow its model from serving 1 million meals a year to approximately 2.5 million meals a year, thanks in part to a “new state of the art production kitchen.”

The organization has definitely stepped things up since its founding — back in 1993, this newsletter announced that MANNA would be moving from the basement of the First Presbyterian Church, a space that only allowed the organization to serve a maximum of 100 clients.

MANNA continues to grow and sustain with services and events such as the annual “Shut Up and Dance” performance, taking place April 29 this year. The fundraiser has earned nearly $1.5 million for the nonprofit in the past 25 years.

It's real! It's happening! Our kitchen is loading equipment into the trucks and heading off to our new space. The future has arrived. pic.twitter.com/RGtbnRllfl

— MANNA (@MANNANourishes) March 27, 2017

From our Partners

Longtime volunteers at MANNA have been expressing their thoughts on the move and their memories of the Ranstead location on the company blog and on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/mannapa/photos/a.408132439323.183983.6239954323/10155173168679324/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/mannapa/photos/a.408132439323.183983.6239954323/10155173406754324/?type=3&theater