MANNA's Freezer Cooler Timeline

The opening of MANNA’s new freezer and cooler marks a major milestone in Western North Carolina’s recovery—and in our shared fight against hunger. Hurricane Helene destroyed our former cold storage infrastructure, but the need for food assistance never slowed. This new 16,500-square-foot facility increases our cold storage capacity by 233%, allowing us to safely store and distribute significantly more fresh and frozen food. That means more fresh produce, more dairy, and more high-quality proteins reaching families across our 16-county region and the Qualla Boundary—foods that are not only nourishing, but deeply needed. But a freezer only makes a difference when it’s full. Through the Fill the Freezer campaign, you can help transform this expanded space into a powerful source of hope for thousands of families. Every gift directly supports the purchase and distribution of nutritious, perishable foods through MANNA’s network of more than 300 partner pantries, meal sites, shelters, and community organizations. Together, we can ensure this new facility delivers on its promise—bringing more fresh, healthy food to neighbors who need it most. https://www.mannafoodbank.org/fill-the-freezer