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The Smart Sacks program is truly innovative and helps to address childhood hunger in Montgomery County by providing a backpack of healthy kid-friendly food to hungry elementary school children so that they have food to eat on the weekends. We partner each school with a nearby organization, such as a corporation or civic group. Manna provides the food, the partner organization provides the volunteer labor to fill and transport the backpacks each week, and the school counselors distribute the backpacks to the children each Friday. Each student receives a backpack containing kid-friendly nutritional food such as a juice box, tuna fish, cup of fruit, pudding, crackers, soup, macaroni and cheese, applesauce, cereal, oatmeal and peanut butter and crackers. Smart Sacks is a perfect example of how a community comes together to solve a problem. It is truly a collaborative effort that brings several community partners together to fight childhood hunger and an important component to break the cycle of hunger and poverty. It provides children with the opportunity to learn and succeed at school.

Manna Food Center is the only food bank in Montgomery County, and nearly every county nonprofit organization relies on Manna to provide essential food to their clients. Manna is that rare organization that actually achieves synergy by bringing together government, corporations, nonprofit organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, community groups, and individuals with the common cause of fighting hunger in Montgomery County. Founded in 1983, Manna Food Center strives to end hunger in Montgomery County through education, advocacy, and food distribution. Since our founding, Manna has distributed more than 33 million pounds of food to more than 2.1 million individuals in Montgomery County. Manna has three primary food distribution programs.

Food Distribution to Families: Manna’s regular food distribution program feeds approximately 3,000 families each month. Every client is referred to Manna through one of our partnerships with 360 different organizations. Clients may pick up food every 30 days at one of Manna’s distribution sites located all across Montgomery County. They receive a 3-5 day supply of perishable and shelf-stable food. We also deliver food directly to several low-income apartment complexes and community centers across the county.

Smart Sacks: In 2005, Manna founded Smart Sacks which partners Manna, local businesses, and elementary schools. Together we provide the children with backpacks full of kid-friendly food every Friday so they have food on the weekends when there are no school meals to sustain them. Food Distribution to Agencies : Manna also provides food to 37 Montgomery County agencies including soup kitchens, food pantries, group homes, and emergency shelters throughout Montgomery County. These agencies have limited funds available fulfill their missions. When Manna can provide food the agency needs, it allows them to put their dollars to better use addressing the root causes of poverty and hunger.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy.

Manna Food Center is the only Montgomery County food bank.  Smart Sacks is the only program in our community specifically aimed at reaching the children at school to address hunger and provide food over the weekends.

We have received feedback from several of the schools that participate in the program about the positive impact it is having on the students who receive the backpacks. “The benefits have been measurable,” a representative from Georgian Forest Elementary School noted, “Our students leave the building with a smile on their face and a sense of security because they know they will have meals to eat over the weekend. The program has had a profound effect on the personal well-being and academic performance...the students have expressed that they find comfort in knowing they can count on it.”

Our outcomes for 2009 exceeded our expectations!

Predicted Outcome July 2008-June 2009: Manna would provide 450 elementary school children with a backpack of healthy food each weekend through the Smart Sacks distribution program. Actual Outcome July 2008-June 2009: Manna provided 814 elementary school children with a backpack of healthy food each weekend through the Smart Sacks distribution program.

Predicted Outcome July 2008-June 2009: Manna would partner with 20 participating elementary schools in our Smart Sacks food distribution program. Actual Outcome July 2008-June 2009: Manna partnered with 27 elementary schools in our Smart Sacks food distribution program.

Predicted Outcome July 2008-June 2009: Manna would distribute a total of 17,500 backpacks of food to elementary schools in our Smart Sacks food distribution program. Actual Outcome July 2008-June 2009: Manna distributed a total of 25,666 backpacks of food to elementary schools in our Smart Sacks food distribution program.

Predicted Outcome July 2008-June 2009: Manna would distribute a total of 70,000 pounds of food to elementary school students through our Smart Sacks food distribution program. Actual Outcome July 2008-June 2009: Manna distributed a total of 102,664 pounds of food to elementary school students through our Smart Sacks food distribution program.

VOLUNTEERS: Volunteers make it all possible Volunteers are absolutely vital to our work at Manna. Our mission of feeding those in need simply couldn't be fulfilled without them. Volunteers last year donated an amazing 35,746 hours of their time to ensure that thousands of Montgomery County families would not go hungry. That is the equivalent of 19 full-time employees.

FAMILY BOX PACKING DAYS: Manna Food Center Family Volunteer Days are a roaring success. Volunteers gather at the Rockville Manna Food Center warehouse to fill boxes with non-perishable food that are later distributed to clients. This is very hands on and requires physical activity. Volunteers should be age 7 and up.

Space is limited and a confirmed reservation is required. Reservations open on the first of the month before the event, i.e. July 1st for August dates. To reserve a box packing space, email your requested dates to volunteer@mannafood.org along with a phone number and the number of spaces requested.

FOOD SORTING: Volunteers can help Manna sort the food donations that we receive from our community. You will separate donated food into different food categories, check expiration dates, and discard damaged products. To learn more about sorting food opportunities, email us volunteer@mannafood.org.

PLANT A ROW OF PRODUCE TO DONATE: Manna Food Center can never get enough fresh fruits and vegetables for our clients. If you are a gardener, help us while enjoying the fun of playing in the soil. Just plant some extra vegetables or fruits and then deliver the produce to the Manna Food Center. We accept donations of all sizes – Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.

FOOD & FUND DRIVES: Please remember Manna Food Center can ALWAYS use donations of food and funds. Organizing a Food & Funds drive is a worthwhile and fun activity for your family, community group, neighborhood, business, or faith based organization.

MANNA AMBASSADOR: Help Manna reach out to the community by becoming a Manna Ambassador. Staff a booth at community events or speak to a class of students or a community group about hunger. Help us raise awareness about hunger in Montgomery County.