From Crisis to Community: Manna Food Bank's Journey

Noah George welcomes Micah Chrisman from Manna Food Bank to discuss the organization's incredible journey of resilience and rebuilding following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. The timing couldn't have been more dramatic - just two days before the hurricane struck, Manna's board had approved pursuing a new facility in Mills River, as they had outgrown their location on a flood plain. Then disaster hit, destroying their entire food reserves and warehouses with a 20-foot wall of water.Micah shares the remarkable story of how Manna never missed a beat despite losing everything except their fleet of trucks. Within days, they were operating emergency distributions at the Western North Carolina Farmers Market, serving over 8,000 families who had lost everything. The community response was extraordinary, with volunteers driving from as far as North Dakota to deliver supplies, and financial support pouring in from across the country.The conversation reveals the shocking scale of food insecurity in Western North Carolina - Manna serves approximately 158,000 people monthly across 16 counties through their network of 225 partner agencies. These numbers have more than doubled since pre-COVID days, demonstrating the persistent economic challenges facing many families. Through partnerships with major grocery chains and local farmers, Manna provides not just canned goods but fresh produce, meat, cheese, and eggs to those in need. Now, they're "building an airplane while flying it" - establishing their new 84,000-square-foot facility while continuing to serve their community without interruption. Want to be part of this inspiring mission? Visit mannafoodbank.org to learn how you can volunteer or support their critical work feeding our neighbors.