What an exciting winter it’s been so far! On Combat Hunger Day, November 13, the community donated thousands upon thousands of pounds of food, which is being distributed three times a week via food boxes to families in need. In the meantime, we’re still carrying out Tuesday and Thursday Café (hot evening meals to the homeless and anyone else who decides to join the party). These are outdoor meals, so before each Café, we load up the Luv Bus and head out. Now that we’ve got tents and heaters, everyone is cozy and warm.
People have been cleaning out their closets and providing us with coats, hats, etc., so we’ve been distributing those as well. There’s nothing quite like blessing someone with a hot, yummy plate of chicken-n-rice and a puffy coat or fuzzy blanket on a cold night. 
Mobile Pantries are going strong approximately once a month. At December’s Pantry we were able to pass out 354 food boxes to community families. The best part of the day was having our guests come up and say, “I came for food, but I want to help—put me to work!” We had at least three people actually give up their food box tickets in order to lend a hand. Of course we still sent them home with a box, but we were blown away and forever changed by their generosity. In this ministry, you see a lot of things that make you cry on the way home—with sadness and with joy. You see the human heart at its worst and at its best.
Once a month on Friday evenings, we now get together in the Manna House for a time of worship called the Well Diggin’. And on Saturday mornings, Community breakfast (in partnership with Grace Community) is going strong. The crowd is much smaller than our evening meal crowds, but this gives us one-on-one time with our guests, which is vital—and so much fun!
Every day, behind the scenes, our core teams takes care of the warehouse, balances the books, washes dishes, loads the bus, does the shopping, sweeps the floors, cooks the food, assembles food boxes, and does countless other tedious tasks that ultimately make a difference in the lives of hundreds of people. We couldn’t do what we do without this fabulous core team—as well as our board of directors, our amazing volunteers, and all those others who love, support, encourage, and pray for us. We’d love to thank every one of you by name, but that would be impossible—not only because we’re pushing 50 and our memories aren’t what they used to be but also because there are those who give anonymously. 
To all of you who have helped in any way to carry out the mission of Manna Café, please know that we’re acutely aware that there would be no Manna Café at all without you and that we’re deeply grateful for you.
Ultimately, we owe everything to the One who loves the poor and the broken far, far more than we do—our Savior, Jesus. To Him, we say thank You for the profound honor of serving the hungry.
Merry Christmas to all!
Sincerely,
Kenny and Vicki York
Our desire at Manna Cafe Ministries [MCM] is to reach out to the broken and lost in the highways and byways of Clarksville, TN and surrounding areas. Basically, our battle against darkness takes place in the streets. We are geared primarily toward the homeless and poor, as we believe this is the basis of true Christianity.
