Dear Editor,

Many rumors have been circulating about the Manna Food Pantry in Worthington. We as a board would like to make the facts known.

First and foremost: We are not closing. Our location remains at the former Presbyterian Church basement, however we are no longer associated with the Presbyterian Church in Worthington. We are now renting from the Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Hispana Church. We have not moved, nor plan to move to another facility in the near future.

The Manna Food Pantry remains a strong independent food supplier to the low income citizens of Worthington and the surrounding area. We are not affiliated with other food distribution groups in Worthington. We have been committed to providing food in our community for 56 years, since 1968.

We have served over 4,800 individual clients in the past four months, giving out over 58,784 pounds of fresh, frozen and canned healthy food. Since Sept. 1, 2023 we have had 406 new families use the Pantry. Demand is strong and increasing.

We remain financially viable, thanks to the many “faithful and generous donors” from our communities.

We continue to be serviced by wonderful volunteers who dispense the food, but we could always use new volunteers and board members.

We welcome all people who are in need of food. We are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sincerely, The Manna Board of Directors
Richard Dalrymple, chairman
Jim Putman, vice-chairman
Erlin Weness, secretary
Harlan Handevidt
Mary Kor
Gerardo (Poncho) and Julie Lira