Happy Manna-versary to Colesville Presbyterian Church!
Colesville Presbyterian Church volunteers and Toby Weismiller hold a special banner with Manna Food Center staff Angela Whitmal, Jackie DeCarlo, and Jenna Umbriac.
In the spring of 2014, a group of congregants from Colesville Presbyterian Church approached Manna Food Center to ask if they could become a distribution site. They had seen how we operated at the nearby East County Community Center and had even tested whether or not they could lift the boxes of 60 pounds of food. Lucky for them (or at least for their backs), we had a different idea in mind when we asked if they would experiment with a new choice model pantry. Lucky for us, they accepted the challenge and with a basic framework provided by Manna they created a monthly opportunity for community members to come together and support one another.
CPC’s focus on hospitality is evident in the way each person is treated when they come to the church. A close fellowship has formed among volunteers and participants. They come together around food and share comforting hugs, smiles, and laughter.
Over the last 5 years, they’ve been steady on Manna’s vision of providing “good food in welcoming spaces” and Manna is now using the CPC example as a foundation for new choice sites at Silver Spring United Methodist Church, Gaithersburg Middle School and our upcoming marketplace at 12301 Old Columbia Pike. ( See full distribution site list.) We enjoyed sharing our gratitude with CPC members and patrons of the pantry at a potluck dinner hosted by CPC on June 30.
Happy Anniversary to all the volunteers and staff at Colesville Presbyterian Church!