As of today, we’re stepping into our third year at Manna Café. On the National Day of Prayer of 2010, the week of the flood that devastated much of Clarksville, we served our first meal in the parking lot behind United Way. It’s been a wild and crazy journey since then.

Today, Because of the dedication of our staff and a whole lot of volunteers, we’re distributing more than 30 thousand pounds of food per month through our food box program (on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). As of this week, we also have an on-site chaplain for those who need individual prayer and a free medical clinic on Thursdays. Meanwhile, we’re serving two thousand hot meals per month (at two outdoor locations here in town). This provides a safe, happy place where low-income families and the homeless can get not just a nutritious, hot meal but also some encouragement and prayer, a to-go box, and/or a blanket. Finally, our new culinary and catering program is up and running; the vision behind this is to provide training and job skills.

Stay tuned for updates concerning some outdoor events in partnership with Parks and Recreation. And don’t forget that we’re also continuing to unite with Clarksville House of Prayer at Lighthouse Café (in the upstairs room) every Friday evening for some God-time, and everyone’s welcome. Also, be on the lookout for prayer requests every Monday on Facebook. In this next season, we need it more than ever.

It seems that every couple of days, Kenny and I are overwhelmed all over again by the way God has breathed life into Manna Café. This ministry has grown exponentially not because of us but in spite of us. We’re so human and small and inadequate, but He has called precious, precious people who make it possible to touch so many lives week after week. We love you for answering that call.

So as we celebrate two years of the miraculous, we say thank you to the core team and to the hundreds upon hundreds of people who have invested into Manna Café via their volunteer efforts, financial donations, resources, prayers, and guidance. Finally, we thank the priceless individuals who have allowed us to serve and love them these two years and who have given us far, far more than we could ever give them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyt2An-BqMA

It’s Manna Madness time again! We’re excited about this month-long event: 31 days to fight hunger. Friends from all over Clarksville are joining forces with Manna Cafe Ministries to stock our food pantry, raise funds, and educate the community about the hunger issue. Many, many thanks to the businesses, churches, and individuals who are making a difference in Clarksville and who took part in last year’s event, which was a huge success. If you’d like to step up to the plate this year, there’s still time– just call 931.933.0970.

Here are some specific dates and times of the events still to come:

March 1

-Press Release at Manna Café Ministries, announcing the Second Annual MANNA MADNESS in MARCH

March 2

-Food Drive at Hilltop Supermarket from 8am-7pm

-Spirit of Clarksville, radio interview with Kenny York

-Kenny York speaking at the Hilldale Baptist Church MOPS group from 10:30am-11:30am about Manna Café Ministries Volunteer Network Program

-CHOP at Lighthouse from 6pm-10pm

-Church of the Day: Excell Baptist Church

-Business of the Day: Lifeway Christian Store

March 3

-Mobile Pantry at Montgomery Central from 10am-12pm.

March 4

-Info Booth at Fellowship UMC

-Food Drive at Community Church

March 5

-Daymar Institute, collecting food during the month of March

-Kenny will be speaking at the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) meeting about our Services and Volunteer Program

-Church of the Day: Monday Night Beth Moore Bible Study Group, First Baptist Church

-Business of the Day: Source Chiropractic

March 6

-Bethel University, food drive set up year-round

-Church of the Day: Greenhill Baptist Church

-Business of the Day: One-Hour Heating and Air

March 7

- Miller-Motte Technical College, collecting food during the month of March

-SDA Women’s Ministry delivering “Handbags for the Homeless,” personal care items they have collected

-Church of the Day: Saint Bethlehem UMC

-Business of the Day: Capital Bank

March 8

- Troy University, collecting food during the month of March

-Leadership Clarksville Lunch at Manna Café Ministries

-Church of the Day: Grace Church/Jim Amos Volunteer Team

-Business of the Day: SSF Submissions

March 9

- University Landing and the Grove Apartments is collecting food during the month of March

-Food Drive at Hilltop Supermarket, starting at 8am

-Church of the Day: Bethel “Surge” Youth Group

-Business of the Day: Nanette-Morford Insurance

March 10

-Food Drives from 10am-6pm at Kroger Stores on Madison Street, Lowe’s Drive, and Dover Crossing

-Comedy Show, Café Catering

March 11

-Food Collection/Information Booth at Grace Community Church

March 12

-Lydia Walker @ Chick-fil-a, Kenny York speaking

-Church of the Day: Hilldale Baptist Family Life Center (Information booth about Manna Café Ministries Volunteer Program set up from March 12-March 18)

-Business of the Day: Alderholt Brothers Builders

March 13

-Church of the Day: Salem UMC

-Business of the Day: Catholic Charities collecting food

March 14

-Pastor’s Luncheon at Manna Café Ministries

-Working Women’s Wednesday

-Church of the Day: Northeast Baptist Church

-Business of the Day:  Fieldstone Assisted Living

March 15

-Church of the Day: His Church

-Business of the Day: Clarksville Chiropractic

March 16

-Lydia Walker at Lighthouse

-Church of the Day: Hilldale MOPS

-Business of the Day: Edward’s Steakhouse

March 17

-Food Drive- Dollar General Store

-Auction World Food Drive

March 18

-Grace Church- Food Drive/Info Booth

March 19

-Food Collection at Excell Baptist Church

-Church of the Day: Mount Zion College Ministry APSU- Assisting with Weekend Food Drive 24th and Food Box Program

-Business of the Day: Chick-fil-a, Manna Monday at Chick-fil-a

March 20

-Food Drive Collections at Clarksville- Montgomery County Elementary Schools

-Church of the Day: First Missionary Baptist Church

-Business of the Day: David Allen Chiropractic

March 21

-Fundraiser/Food Drive- “Pack the Pantry” APSU Baseball Fundraiser sponsored by Kennedy Law Firm, who is also having a food drive for Manna Café Ministries during the month of March

-Food Drive Collections at Clarksville-Montgomery County Middle Schools

-Working Women’s Wednesday

-Church of the Day: Gum Springs Baptist Youth Group

-Business of the Day: Kennedy Law Firm

March 22

-Food Drive Collections at Clarksville-Montgomery County High Schools

-Church of the Day: Quad 4

-Business of the Day: Scott Swanton Hall of Frames

March 23

-Food Drive Collections at Clarksville Private Schools

*Clarksville Academy FCA

*Unity Christian Academy

*Tabernacle Christian Schools

*Wildwood Christian Academy

-Church of the Day: Fellowship UMC 143 Youth

-Business of the Day: Dr. Karr and Blackman

March 25

March 26

-Church of the Day: God’s Place

-Business of the Day: TRC-TN Vocational/Rehabilitation Service

March 27

-Church of the Day: Xtreme Ministries

-Business of the Day: High Pointe Physical Therapy

March 28

-Working Women’s Wednesday

-Church of the Day: Grace Community Church

-Business of the Day: A-1 Heating and Air/Food Drive

March 29

-Info and Food Collection at Catholic Charities

-Church of the Day: Grace Community Church, Trent Gallivan’s Volunteer Team

-Business of the Day: CrossFit Solafide

March 30

-Food Drive- Sam’s Club

-Carwash @ Chick-fil-a 10am-3pm (Manna Café Ministries Volunteer Homeschool Groups attending: Wildwood Christian Academy, M&M Homeschool, Clabough, Chadwick, Helton and Groppel Homeschool Groups)

-Church of the Day- All churches that participated in the Second Annual MANNA MADNESS in MARCH

-Business of the Day- All businesses that participated in the 2nd Annual MANNA MADNESS in MARCH

-Pastor Kenny York’s 50th birthday!

March 31

-Food Drive- Sam’s Club

-Food Drive- GFS

-Saturday Breakfast Café

-Pancake Breakfast @ Manna House

As you can see, the warehouse is full of food, because this is what we do: distribute food boxes 3 days a week. Last year, we gave out nearly a quarter million pounds of food–even though 2011 was our first full year in operation!

Since everyone likes pictures, here’s another one showing our volunteers taking food boxes out to clients’ cars.

Since we’re distributing so much food, and since our warehouse is only so big, we have a problem: we’re running out of room, FAST. And the only way to go is up, as you can see in the first photo. So here’s the solution:

Shelving! Kenny has found a good deal on these units, but so that we don’t break the bank trying to manage the lack-of-space problem, we’re inviting you to sponsor a unit for $175. If even a tiny fraction of our friends will sponsor a unit, we’ll be able to “move on up” and keep getting the groceries out there to those who need them. If you’d like to be a part of this, just hit the Donate button and specify “shelving unit” or come by the Manna House so we can thank you in person. Please make sure that Vicki knows you sponsored a unit by messaging her on FB (Victoria Doulos York) so she can post everyone’s names when this project is complete.

Thank you so very much!

As people arrived at Thursday Café tonight, I noticed quite a few with their sleeves pulled over their hands or their heads uncovered against the cold. So once the meal got going I gathered a couple of bags full of hats, gloves, socks, etc. to pass out. I asked a few of our volunteers, including Danielle, whom I’d never met before, if they wanted to give me a hand. Danielle was, apparently, the perfect person for the job because she responded, “Oh! Sure—I just gave away my own hat and gloves!” Then we went our separate ways, divvying out the goodies.

A little while later, Danielle came up to me and motioned toward one of our veteran Manna Café workers, Jennifer, who was sitting with several other people at a table. Jennifer is pretty, tiny, and willowy, with no fat to keep her warm, so she was dressed in a pair of Carhart overalls, a hoodie pulled around her head. Danielle asked me, “Should I ask her if she needs a hat or gloves? I can’t always tell who to ask—we all look the same!”

We—the volunteers, the Manna Café core team, the homeless, and the otherwise poor—all looked the same. The “us-and-them” lines were blurred. We looked like one big, zany family. Just as it should be.

This morning, the Jingle Bell Jog/Run for a Reason brought in more than $6000 for Manna Cafe! Over 400 runners crossed the finish line, including Kenny/a.k.a Pastor Bubba, who ran in his overalls and flannel shirt but still managed to come in third place in his division! Thank you so very much to all the volunteers, sponsors, runners and organizers who pulled this day together. We are honored and humbled by the turnout and by the sacrifices made by many, especially Eddie Ferrell and Casey Jenkins Combs. I wish I could name everyone who pitched in, donating their time, resources, energy, money, and more. You are our heroes! ClarksvilleNow did a great job of reporting and posting photos, so just click here or cut and paste to your browser: http://www.clarksvillenow.com/Jingle-Bell-Jog-5K/11639376

For frequent updates on Manna Cafe, “like” our Manna Cafe Ministries FaceBook page. For updates regarding volunteer opportunities, “like” our MannaCafe VolunteersInfo FaceBook page. 

It’s fall, which means it’s gorgeous and sunny at noon but cooooold at night. It’s wonderful to snuggle up under a down quilt when the sun goes down, but let’s not forget that some people have to battle the elements night after night. We at Manna Cafe would love nothing more than to have the space and resources to give every homeless person a warm place to sleep every night (and that’s Number One on our list of goals!). But until then, we’ll be distributing coats, blankets, hats, gloves, and tarps to those who need them. If you’d like to help, just come by the Manna House with your donations M-F from 10-4. We’ll make sure that your extra parka or comforter goes to someone who needs it.

The Manna House is located at 1319 Franklin St., Clarksville (behind Gateway Tire and almost across from Cook’s Market).

Want to help? Be on site at about 8:30 a.m.–and we can always use fresh troops at clean-up time, around 1:00 p.m.

See you there!

Check out the story of our first-ever Mobile Pantry at http://www.mannacafeministries.com/site/uncategorized/mp/.