Giving Grace: Manna Café Ministries helps feed Clarksville’s hungry population

Feeding the hungry in Clarksville-Montgomery County is an ever-growing problem and Manna Café Ministries is consistently seeking solutions.

The faith-based ministry of Manna Café was born in the heart and mind of founder Kenny York in Nashville in 2008. York and his wife Vicki moved the operations of the nonprofit to Clarksville in 2010 and actually began serving the community just days after the historic flood that year.

Manna Café’s yearly fundraisers include Grits & Gravy, Stuff the Love Bus, Combat Hunger, and others. Their programs like the Mobile Café, Mobile Pantry, Food Box Distribution, and Operation Pomegranate are shared throughout the community.

York says Operation Pomegranate is one of his favorites because it works with the Mobile Café and features fresh produced meals along with training on the preparation of healthy food. Participants are encouraged to learn about and experience a wide variety of food.

Many of Manna Café’s programs and service to the community are made possible through their partnership with organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank and United Way of the Greater Clarksville Region.

Perhaps the largest project each year is Combat Hunger. This year’s event is set for Saturday, November 10 and food collection points will be set up at over a dozen locations in Clarksville-Montgomery County.

The goal for 2018 is to collect 60,000 pounds of food, which will go toward the over 1.8 million pounds of food Manna Café distributes each year. Along with donations of food, monetary donations are also accepted by Manna Café. In fact four times more food can be purchased with every dollar donated.

York said the organization is always in need of volunteers and Combat Hunger will ask for the help of hundreds more volunteers of all ages who can look into their hearts and take on the task of helping those suffering from hunger and homelessness.

Coming up in the future for Manna Café, as well as for the community, is the Manna Village. Recently the organization bought the old Schrecker Moving & Storage buildings and property on Providence Blvd.

The site will not only be the home of Manna Café Ministries but also a gathering place for many organizations and agencies that are committed to meeting the needs of homeless and low-income people and families in Clarksville-Montgomery County.

To learn more about the work of Manna Café Ministries, to donate, or to become a volunteer, visit mannacafeministries.com, email info@mannacafeministries.com or call 931-933-0970.