Food donations to MANNA FoodBank drop 24% as need reaches historic levels
Mon, August 17, 2026 at 9:15 PM
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Food donations for MANNA FoodBank, a nonprofit organization in western North Carolina. (Photo: WLOS Staff)
MILLS RIVER, N.C. (WLOS) —MANNA FoodBank says it is facing the highest level of need in its more than four decades of serving western North Carolina, while the amount of donated food coming into the organization has dropped significantly
Food donations have fallen 24% over the past two years, a decrease equivalent to about 3.3 million pounds of food, according to the organization
At the same time, the food bank says more than 220,000 visits to food pantries are happening each month on average as people across the region seek help putting food on the table
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“We have over 220,000 visits to our food pantries on average every single month,” MANNA FoodBank spokesperson Micah Chrisman said
MANNA FoodBank says several factors are contributing to the decline in food donations
“From federal food support donations being down, from individual food donations being down, and also just from the impact of Hurricane Helene on our local infrastructure, on our farmers who aren’t able to share their produce as much as they maybe were able to because they’re replanting and growing their crops that were devastated from the flood,” Chrisman said
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With fewer donated food rely increase the amount of food it purchases. The organization’s food purchasing budget has increased more than 156% over the past two years to help keep food available at local pantries
MANNA FoodBank is asking the community to support its work through food donations, monetary contributions or volunteer time. The organization says donations of any size can help. According to Chrisman, $10 can provide 16 meals for folks in need
Click here to donate to MANNA FoodBank, and click here to find a food pantry near you
