Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity and MANNA FoodBank have been beacons of hope for thousands and thousands of Western North Carolina families for more than forty years. Both organizations were hit hard by Hurricane Helene in late September with MANNA’s warehouse and office destroyed completely, and Habitat’s Asheville ReStore and Administrative Office severely damaged. Nonetheless, these two nonprofits acted quickly to support the community in its greatest time of need. 

Since Helene ravaged the region, some Asheville Habitat staff members have served with MANNA in an informal capacity. MANNA also offered some office space at their new Mills River facility to Habitat’s administrative staff who were displaced from their Meadow Road property near Biltmore Village. In mid-October, the two agencies signed an agreement that has a number of ReStore staff working at MANNA’s new warehouse through mid-January 2025. 

With Habitat’s Asheville ReStore closed indefinitely due to storm damage, CEO Andy Barnett worried there wouldn’t be enough work for all ReStore staff. At the same time, MANNA's team was stretched thin trying to meet an increased need for food assistance. Barnett and MANNA’s CEO Claire Neal found a great match between Habitat’s ReStore workforce and the food distribution agency’s staffing needs. 

“MANNA was excited to welcome Habitat’s skilled, mission-aligned team members to help out, and I was thrilled to keep our team intact while we figure out our next steps,” Barnett said.

This expanded partnership between two mainstay non-profits benefits not only the agencies, but the community at large. 

“By adding their multi-skilled staff to our Operations, Volunteer Center, and Community Markets teams, we have been able to expand our collective relief efforts,” Neal said. “Together, we stand united in the goal of helping our communities heal and thrive once again.”

Source: Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity