To the MANNA Community,

The daily barrage of news out of Washington, D.C. in recent weeks has many of our friends, supporters, partners, clients, volunteers and staff wondering whether any of the announced or proposed changes to federal funding will impact our work at MANNA.

Here’s what we know today: our work continues uninterrupted, and so does our commitment to caring for our clients and each other. That said, we have a careful watch on the shifts and conversations happening at the federal level. The fact is, federal funding represents 40% of our annual operating budget with approximately $4.2 million coming to us through:

• Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funding
• Medicaid funding through our healthcare contracts

If these programs were to be cut or reduced, MANNA would certainly be affected. We are also mindful that cuts to programs such as SNAP, WIC, free clinics, and housing assistance would impact many of our clients and increase the need for MANNA’s services to more people in our region. That’s why we are monitoring developments closely and preparing for service continuity in a multitude of circumstances. We are also actively meeting with legislators to emphasize the importance of funding evidence-based medically tailored meals; this included a recent visit by MANNA Director of Research & Policy Jule Anne Henstenburg and Manager of Research & Evaluation Adrian Crafford to Washington, D.C.  Always, but especially in times like these, we are extraordinarily grateful for the partnerships and philanthropic support that help to power our mission and ensure a path to a resilient future.

We began this year celebrating MANNA’s 35th anniversary, and although we’re focused on the future, the anniversary milestone reminds us of where we started. Navigating the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis on many days felt insurmountable, and government support was virtually nonexistent. But there was always hope and a community of people dedicated to making a meaningful difference for our neighbors who were suffering. Over four decades, we’ve expanded our reach and impact to serve almost 24 million medically tailored meals to people dealing with complex, chronic diseases. And along the way, our MANNA community has grown exponentially, helping to make it all possible.

What will tomorrow bring? We’ll find out together, and our doors are always open to answer any questions you may have.

Together, we have established food as medicine as an integral, evidence-based component of disease management, and we have positively impacted countless lives. There is more work to do, there are more people to serve, and MANNA will be here, ready for all of it.

With thanks,

Sue Daugherty, RDN, LDN
CEO, MANNA

P.S – If you feel inspired to help MANNA nourish our neighbors during these uncertain times, we encourage you to donate. Monthly donations are a great way to provide consistent, dependable support. Or you can extend your impact by making a tax-smart donation. Email Amy Mansky at amansky@mannapa.org if you have questions or ideas about supporting MANNA.