CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Manna Café is a faith-based nonprofit founded by Kenny York and his wife Vicki. It has served Clarksville-Montgomery County since 2010, providing a mobile soup kitchen that serves eight free meals a week at various locations.

Some of those are distributed at Manna Village, 605 Providence Blvd., where they also offer a drive-thru food distribution program three days a week. Those require a photo ID and proof of residency.

Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
The Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Buggies filled with food awaits being given to someone in need at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Vicki York and Kenny York of Manna Cafe Ministries plan for helping those in need in Clarksville-Montgomery at the Manna Village on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
A buggy of food awaits being given to someone in need at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Food awaits being given to someone in need at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
The Refuge at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers serve the community and those who need help at the Manna Village at Manna Cafe Ministries, on Oct. 26, 2021. (Lee Erwin).

 

Since moving into the Manna Village in 2018, Manna Café has added a case worker to help people find housing or a job, and there are internships available for the culinary program.

“The vision for Manna Village is to eventually bring other agencies in with us and being able to offer more services. For people who have lost everything, it takes more than one agency to get them back on their feet; it takes a village of agencies,” York said.

Fundraisers this month

For the month of November, Manna Café is hosting two fundraising events. The organization’s first Golden Gala will take place on Nov. 5 at Living Hope Baptist Church, 225 Little Hope Church Road, and the annual Combat Hunger will be Saturday, Nov. 13.

“We need money to keep our doors open and to pay bills. Unfortunately, with everything going up, it takes more money for us to operate,” York said.

Manna Café has partnered with 5 Star Media Group since 2010 for Combat Hunger. Volunteers set up in grocery stores and hand out shopping lists. York said over the past three years they have raised more than 30,000 pounds of food in one day, and it is their biggest food drive of the year. This year, Combat Hunger will also be going on in Stewart County.

Volunteers needed

When it comes to volunteers, York said the COVID 19 pandemic led to their volunteers going way down because people were afraid to get out. “Right now, volunteers are very much needed because everything we do is volunteer driven,” York said.

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.

Giving Grace, sponsored by Grace Dental, is an ongoing Clarksville Now series showcasing local nonprofit organizations.