Manna
– in the Bible, the food miraculously provided for the Israelite's in the wilderness during their flight from Egypt – “good things which have been provided as sustenance”.
What are Manna Bags?
Manna Bags are bags filled with a few essential items like non- perishable food and snacks, bottled water or juice, new socks, toothbrush and toothpaste and some information about local shelters. They are small enough to fit in your car and are a blessing to the homeless living in our community. There are so many individuals and families that just need a helping hand. Keep several of these 'Manna Bags' in your car, and hand them out when you see a need.
How you can help
We will be having a "Build A Manna Bag" workshop in January. The needs don't stop during the holidays. We will have our workshop where we will actually build and stuff bags that we can start distributing immediately.
Gallon Size Zip-Loc Bags
These are key for several reasons:
- Helps to keep everything together & in one place so they can easily access the supplies in their bags/backpacks
- Keeps the items from spilling/leaking onto their personal items in their bags.
- The bags can later be used for other storage options within their bags – storing toiletries, snacks.
Suggested Items
- Canned tuna or chicken – (zip top for easy opening) or Tuna/cracker packs
- Granola, energy or cereal bars (chocolate melts)
- Trail mix, bulk chips, or other snacks individually packaged
- Bags of peanuts, sunflower seeds
- Beef jerky or Slim Jim's
- Small boxes of raisins
- Individual pudding cups
- Wrapped packages of crackers
- Wrapped packages of cookies
- Small cans of zip top fruit or fruit cups
- Individual size chips or pretzels
- Hard candy, Mints Gum
- Bottles of water Juice boxes or small cans of juice
- Toiletries in plastic bottles, like shampoo, bars of soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb. Save your hotel shampoos, conditioners and other individual products. Turn in at Chapter.
- socks
- Sunscreen
- napkins or baby wipes
- Individual condiment packets of salt, pepper, sugar, mayo, catsup, mustard, plastic
utensil, napkins - Bag of quarters for washing clothes at the laundromat (put in a Snack size Ziploc to keep tidy)
- Baby Wipes - a small pack of baby wipes help with feeling clean and fresh.
- Hand Sanitizer - maybe include a wash cloth, but wipes are probably easier to maintain.
- Deodorant (the full size ones cost just a few cents more than the tiny travel ones)
- Personal hygiene items for women
- Chapstick
* Another option is to collect just one or two items for donation and we will add to existing bags
Items NOT to include:
- any homemade items
- anything requiring refrigeration,
- any unwrapped items,
- chocolate
- fresh fruit
- soft drinks
- drinks in bags or bottles with snap off tops or glass bottles,
- money
- cigarettes
- anything with a torn package or more than a month past expiration date
Note of Encouragement
If you like, you may include a note of support, inspiration or an uplifting scriptural passage. Do not sign with full name or include any personal information. You can sign with your affiliation; faith, civic, school, company. Place your note inside the bag.
Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
John 6:50-51 “But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Luke 3:11 “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”)
Index card with addresses of local homeless shelters or food pantries
Purchasing Suggestions
Visit your local Sam's Club, Costco or BJ's.
Buy in bulk; tooth brushes, socks, bars of soap. As long as they are individually packaged, we can include.
How to Distribute
Easy, keep a couple of the Manna Bags in your car. When you see someone in need, hand them a bag rather than cash.
