Many were saddened when the Graham County Emergency Food Pantry on Tallulah Road closed. The volunteers worked hard and did a wonderful job. While they are sorely missed, food distribution is alive and well in Graham County.
MANNA Food Bank in Asheville is part of the Feeding America network that covers our region. When you hear the word “manna,” you may think of the bread from heaven that God supplied to the Israelites on their wilderness journey. MANNA Foodbank stands for Mountain Area Nutritional Needs Alliance. They supply food that comes from the hard work of staff and volunteers and the generosity of many.
MANNA has two main partners in Graham County. One is Grace Place: A Community Table at 300 Five Point Road, and the other is The Stecoah Valley Center, 121 School House Road. There is another independent food distribution in the county at Panther Creek Baptist Church that is open each fourth Saturday from 8-10 a.m.
Grace Place offers good hot meals each Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. In addition, they have a food distribution on the second Wednesday of the month from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. These offer TEFAP and CSFP boxes (for seniors). TEFAP boxes are offered on the fourth Wednesday evenings along with the hot meals. The next date for a box is June 2 starting at 5 p.m. Stecoah Valley Center hosts the Fresh Express truck each Wednesday at 11 a.m.
One of the blessings that MANNA has worked hard on the past few years is the Fresh Express truck. They bring a variety of fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables right to Graham County. Once, I ran into some trouble giving away spaghetti squash and sent back a few cases. I learned my lesson and became a spaghetti squash expert. It is low in calories, good in fiber and vitamins, a gluten free replacement for pastas and the seeds can be roasted. We have not sent anything back since.
Grace Place, Stecoah Valley and Panther Creek all depend on volunteers and donations. We are grateful for your help and support.
Graham County Schools offers free meals again this summer for children up to age 18. This is for any child even if they do not attend one of our great schools. So, if you have a relative or grandchild visiting, stop on by. The dates are June 13 to July 29 (closed Monday, Fourth of July). Breakfast is |from 7:45-8:30 a.m. and lunch is served from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Head on over to Robbinsville Elementary or High School as food will be served at both locations.
MANNA Food Bank has a food helpline available 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can call 800-820-1109 or text 828-202-9685. They can refer you to the closest food pantry, meal or help you with SNAP applications, questions and re-certifications.
One of the practices of the early Christian Church was to come together for communal meals called a lovefeast (1Corinthians 11:33, Jude 1:12). I like to believe each food distribution in our county is a lovefeast, bringing us together in harmony.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is the pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email at ereece@wnccumc.net.