Metropolitan AIDS Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance

MANNA

P.O. Box 30181
Philadelphia, PA  19103

Or

12 S. 23^rd Street
Philadelphia, PA  19103

215.496.2662, and press 0

www.mannapa.org 

MANNA is a non-profit agency founded in 1990; it is the only not-for-profit, non-sectarian organization in Philadelphia “providing freshly-cooked, home-delivered and congregate meals prepared exclusively for the nutritional needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. MANNA prepares more than 9,000 [free] meals a week for people living in Greater Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey and Eastern Delaware County. Most of the people served live at bare subsistence level. More than 45% of [its] clients are women and children, and 85% are people of color”. MANNA provides for its clients three meals a day, free of charge, Monday through Saturday.

Additionally, MANNA has a for-profit subsidiary, MANNA Catering, Inc. which provides full-service catering; the profits from MANNA Catering support MANNA’s programs. 

Volunteer opportunities with MANNA may be of particular interest to Nursing majors and Human Services majors. 

Contact: Kim Bickel, Director of Volunteer Engagement, kbickel@mannapa.org 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Several opportunities exist for helping MANNA. Additionally, volunteer orientations occur the second and fourth Wednesday or Tuesday of each month from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in order that volunteers learn more about MANNA, tour the facility, and fill out a volunteer application. 

Helping in the Kitchen

Come to the MANNA kitchen to help with every task required in preparing the meals including chopping vegetables, cooking and baking, packaging the meals and cleaning everything after meals are prepared. Up to ten volunteers can be accommodated per shift. 

When: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; 12:30 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.; 5:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.

It is important that volunteers are consistent and commit to their schedule, as the entire organization is reliant upon the preparation of the meals. 

Delivering Meals

Help deliver meals to MANNA’s clients. Meals are picked up at MANNA or at one of ten distribution sites. Volunteers need their own vehicle and gas cannot be reimbursed. It is crucial that volunteers commit to their schedule, as MANNA relies upon them to deliver the meals and must scramble if volunteers do not show. 

When: Monday through Friday, approximately 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Special Events

Volunteers are needed to serve on committees and to assist during the actual fundraising events. The tasks are varied and interesting, and allow volunteers to control the amount of time they commit. Examples include dinner dances, concerts, and organized gift-wrapping. 

When: Events occur once a month: January through March, May, and October through December. 

Special Events Tables

Volunteers help set-up and staff MANNA information tables at special events, which take place in the evenings or on weekends, such as Outfest, block parties, or benefits. 

Office

Volunteers are needed for general office tasks, answering the phone, running local errands, folding brochures, stuffing envelopes, etc. The commitment is for one half day once a week at the MANNA office and is usually scheduled on an as needed basis. 

Speakers Bureau

Once a volunteer knows about MANNA and its mission one can volunteer to speak on behalf of the agency at events around the Delaware Valley. Presentations can be made at a variety of different levels, to organizations such as corporate, civic, religious, and educational groups.

Directions to Agency