Fall in Western North Carolina means college football, crisp mountain temperatures, multi-colored leaves, and now, the unveiling of a brand new, state-of-the-art Equestrian Center at The Preserve at Little Pine. On October 7, 2017, the Grand Opening event will showcase a $25,000 Grand Prix Calcutta, featuring savory cuisine, a variety of spirits, live music, and riveting competition from world-class horses and riders. Proceeds from the event will support the MANNA FoodBank—a truly inspiring organization whose goal is to involve, educate, and unite people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina. Best of all, Preserve Communities is guaranteeing a $10,000 donation, which will provide at least 35,000 meals for MANNA FoodBank.
Nourishing Bodies, Informing Minds
MANNA serves over 200 partners in some 16 counties, supplying food to pantries, soup kitchens, homeless and domestic violence shelters, child and adult daycare centers and group homes. Their food bank is supplied by private donors, public programs, and local and national food suppliers. In addition to providing desperately needed food to families and individuals, MANNA seeks to educate the community and inform minds about the realities and urgency of hunger in the region. “Someone told me the other day,” says Jack Fisher, Founder & Chairman at Preserve Communities, “that one-out-of-four children in Western North Carolina is deprived of the basic food needed to live a normal, healthy life. That really shocked me. It’s unacceptable. We as a community need to change this and MANNA FoodBank is leading that charge.”
Turning the Tables on Hunger
In 2016, MANNA distributed 16.4 million pounds of food, including 3.9 million pounds of fresh produce. To put that into perspective, that’s enough food to provide 37,500 meals for every day of the year. “MANNA truly does an incredible job,” says Fisher, “not simply providing food, but in informing people in the community about what a serious problem hunger is. Many people aren’t aware. And the people suffering are our neighbors, both young and old.”
Making A Difference
MANNA FoodBank is a member of Feeding America. MANNA was awarded a 4-Star Rating from Charity navigator. This is the highest rating possible and it puts MANNA in the company of the most respected non-profit organizations in the country.
Find Out How You Can Get Involved
MANNA has been a real difference-maker in the battle against hunger, but they can’t do it without the support of each community in Western North Carolina. And fortunately, the community has responded. In 2016, 6,215 volunteers donated more than 69,000 hours—the equivalent of 32 full-time staff members. In all, 16.4 million pounds of food was delivered. But in spite of these successes in battling hunger, the need continues to grow each and every day. So the fight to eradicate hunger goes on. If you would like to know more or get involved, visit MANNAFoodBank.org.
Join us for the Equestrian Center Grand Opening
It’s going to be quite a party. We invite you to celebrate with us as we unveil the new Equestrian Center Saturday, October 7 in Marshall, NC. We will kick it off in true equine style with a $25,000 Grand Prix Benefit Calcutta.
Individual tickets are $75 each, and Tables ( for 8 ) are $1,500. The proceeds, of course, will support MANNA FoodBank. Purchase your tickets today while there’s still time.
*The Equestrian Center at The Preserve at Little Pine is owned and operated by an affiliate separate from The Preserve at Little Pine; at this time, boarding services are not available.
