We are a Bracebridge-based food bank serving the residents of Muskoka. This site was created to to help you — whether you are a client, donor, volunteer, or member of the media and the wider community — stay informed and up-to-date on what’s happening here at Manna. Be sure to check out our Latest News, below and on the right. You can also find the Manna Food Bank on Facebook.
We welcome your comments and suggestions. Thanks for visiting.
NEWS
The Kids are Alright!
The students of Marty Scarlett at St. Dominics Catholic Secondary School constructed vertical garden boxes out of skids as a project this term. This is a great group of young people who were able to utilize the skills learned in class to build garden boxes which were then auctioned off. The proceeds of the auction were divided equally between Interval House and Manna Food Bank. The students were pleased that the boxes they created provided funds to two groups in Bracebridge that support community members in need. Using materials that were destined for landfill which were repurposed into functioning garden boxes and then supporting the community is a win-win-win for all involved. There are many wonderful lessons in this project!
Giving is a SNAP!
Derek Simson of SNAP Fitness in Bracebridge presents food and money to Manna President Sam Robinson. 
SNAP participated in the CN Tower Stair Climb again this year with several participants completing the climb. Their times were between 15 and 30 minutes (be still my heart!). As part of the event, a food drive was held at SNAP, and about 200 pounds of food as well as cheques totalling $100.00 were collected. This is the second year SNAP has supported Manna in this way.
Annual Easter Campaign
In Muskoka we are blessed in many ways; small, friendly communities, an abundance of space, fresh air and clean water. But contrary to the cottage-country stereotype, Muskoka’s citizens are on average less well-off than many realize. In 2016, more than 180 families in Muskoka relied on the Manna Food Bank every month, including more than 2,000 children.
The Manna Food Bank is as important to the community as it was upon its formation as a “temporary measure” in 1989. You will find a brightly-coloured envelope addressed to the Manna Food Bank in with the flyers that come with your Examiner newspaper . This is the Manna Food Bank’s Annual Easter Campaign, one of two fundraisers that support Manna every year.
Manna is asking Bracebridge area residents to use the envelope to send in a cheque. Donors can also make a donation online at any time through PayPal or Canada Helps from Manna’s website (www.mannafoodbank.ca). Last year the Manna Envelope Campaign raised just under $5,500 for Manna.
The majority of funds raised every year go directly toward the purchase of food, including perishables, daily food staples and baby formula. Manna is located in Bracebridge, and while most of Manna’s clientele list a Bracebridge address as their home, others come from other area communities; Baysville to Gravenhurst to Severn Bridge and MacTier.
In operation since 1989, the Manna Food Bank is a volunteer-run charitable organization that provides a three-day supply of food to those who need it. More than a third of Manna’s clients are the working poor. Some require only two or three visits to get back on their feet while others require ongoing assistance. We ask that clients not come to the food bank more than once a month, but that being said, Manna will never turn away a hungry person.
Located at 345 Ecclestone Drive, Unit 12, Manna is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 1-4pm.
Thank you in advance for your kind generosity.
The Kids are Alright!
The Great Pasta Challenge of 2017 is over and there’ll be a lot of ‘slurping’ going on!
Recognizing the on-going need for contributions for Manna Food Bank, Katana Files, the G7 rep for BMLSS (the young woman in the centre) headed up the campaign, with her two able assistants, Renee Vanderstelf (left) and Danica Mayes-Stewart(R). Many thanks to the students from all schools who contributed, as well as those who spear-headed the challenge.
Monday, December 19 AGM
President’s Remarks:
This has been another busy year at Manna Food Bank; one with much change. As always we are dependent on our many dedicated volunteers and this year a great deal was asked of them.
Early in the year our Landlord requested that we relocate to another Unit within the facility. The timing was such that the move happened over the Easter weekend and we were able to commence the move at the close of business one Tuesday and be available to our clients the following Tuesday so there was no gap in the service we provide. Our Volunteers, with the able assistance of the Beaver Creek Community Work Team, took care of the teardown, relocation and set-up of the shelving, furniture and inventory; no small task. The configuration of the Unit is basically the same as the previous Unit but the Teams had some orienting to do to become comfortable in the new surroundings.
A donation of a laptop computer had been made and this year Board Member, Dave Simpson, stepped forward to develop and install the appropriate software to allow our client files to be recorded electronically.
This system eliminates the need for a team of people to sit down each spring and go through each and every file to calculate the numbers of clients and details of their use of the food bank. The technical aspect of the changeover was immense but in addition Dave also trained our Interviewers on how to use the program and provided technical support during their learning curve, even preparing a manual for them to follow. Very well done and a huge thank you Dave.
The major food fundraiser for Manna is the annual Fall Food Drive that is held on the first Tuesday of October and is done in partnership with the Muskoka Old Timers Hockey Association.
Two volunteers, John Cameron and Greg Einarson, stepped up to co-ordinate the drive on behalf of Manna and liaise with Rob Fraser of the Old Timers Hockey Association. This is a huge undertaking but they built on the success of past years and we were rewarded with a record amount of food donations and substantial monetary donations.
None of this is possible without the hard work and on-going commitment of our Volunteers for which we are so very grateful.
The Dads come through again!!
Dads of Muskoka is a group of great young men who have a good time fund raising and then support those in our community who could use some help. On December 12 they delivered some of the 160 bags they are providing to Manna for distribution this holiday season. (More…)
Something Spooky came to Manna!!!!
Lily Smith and friend(?)
Once again it has been proven that there is so much talent as well as sense of community in Bracebridge and Manna has been the beneficiary of it. This lovely cake (no it’s not a photo of a Manna Board member!) recently found its way to Bracebridge Public School courtesy of Mellissa Smith Custom Cakes. The classes brought in non-perishable items for Manna with the winning class getting the cake, and a pizza party. (More…)
Green Growing for the Food Bank!
The Green Initiative Committee / Staff Social Committee, headed by Dorothy Henderson(left), Co-Chair of the District of Muskoka was responsible for the community garden situated outside of the District offices on Pine Street. As you can see, the staff have very green thumbs as there was a huge crop of vegetables that was shared between Manna and Salvation Army food banks. This was the final harvest of the season, being presented to Sam Robinson (right) from Manna.
The Unfortunate Reasons for Manna
The District of Muskoka just revealed a 55 page report that very clearly indicates why Manna is needed, and the reason we are so thankful for the community’s efforts in the Annual Food Drive. To read the full report, click on the graphic.
Thank You Bracebridge- You’ve Done it Again!
October 5, 2016 — We at the Manna Food Bank would like to offer the entire town of Bracebridge a hearty thank you for supporting last night’s Fall Food Drive, organized by the Muskoka Oldtimers Hockey Club.
It takes a lot of volunteers to run the food drive; 55 drivers and 130 runners, many of them from Monck, Macauley and BPS, covering 43 routes, plus many more who gather at the Bracebridge Fairgrounds to unpack and sort the donated food. Bracebridge residents dug especially deep this year, giving a record total of 14,500 lbs of food. Cash and cheque donations totalled over $2,400.00.
As always, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Oldtimers, led by Rob Fraser, for their hard work. The Fall Food Drive is Manna’s only community-wide food drive of the year and it is an essential for keeping Manna going.
Most people know about the Fall Food Drive now, thanks to the fact that it has been going for more than two decades, and thanks also to the media outlets, churches and businesses that help spread the word.
And speaking of community support; we would also like to send a hearty thank you to Investors Group, which recently organized and donated to a comedy evening that raised more than $1,000 and hundreds pounds of food for Manna. This is becoming a tradition; assisting Manna while raising the community’s spirits, and we truly appreciate it. We are particularly fortunate to have such a cohesive and compassionate community here in Bracebridge. Another reason to be grateful this Thanksgiving.
Your sincerely,
Sam Robinson
President, Manna Food Bank.
2016 Muskoka Oldtimers Fall Food Drive for Manna
September 12, 2016 – The Muskoka Oldtimers Hockey Club is gearing up for its 2016 Fall Food Drive for Manna, taking place on Tuesday October 4th. They are asking Bracebridge residents to set non-perishable food donations outside front door by 5:30 that evening to be collected in a door-to-door sweep by volunteers. This annual event is Manna’s most important food-raiser of the year and has been taking place for almost as long as the Oldtimers and Manna have been around. (more…)
RBC continues strong “Foundation”
August 30, 2016 — The RBC Foundation continues its legacy of community building by making contributions to those who live there. Here, Manna President Sam Robinson (centre) receives a $1,000 cheque from Kelly Holmes (left) RBC Financial Advisor, and Debbie Davison Eden (right) RBC Bracebridge Branch Manager. These folks clearly understand the value of community!
All Roads Lead to Manna!
Beginning August 29th, the Town of Bracebridge will be initiating its transit system “Riding the Wave”. This 20+ kilometre route through town will allow easier access to Manna as one part of the route stops at Wellington and Ecclestone, a short walk from Manna. Great for our clients, and great for Bracebridge!
Check it out at www.BracebridgeTransit.ca
To our Clients and Volunteers
The Manna Food Bank is open most Tuesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m.
Our closing dates for 2017 are Friday, April 14 (Good Friday) and Friday Dec.26 (Boxing Day).
