Manna Meal

shoppers who didn't know they wanted to string beans today

Taken a break to enjoy some ice cream Know the Bible story about the miracle of the loaves and fishes? Manna Meal experienced its own miracle of the stringbeans on Saturday, July 31. There were no beans to be found in Charleston on Friday just hours before the well publicized Bean String’in event that was to fill the soup kitchen freezer for cold winter months. Jean Simpson, Executive Director of Manna Meal scoured the Capitol Market and called area produce wholesalers without finding any beans….No, not one. Can’t get em, she was told. The event was about to be beanless when Judy Gancs of Robbie’s Produce dropped off 5 cases of string’in beans as a donation an hour before the event ….later it was noticed that nearly all the Market vendors had and were selling beans to support the event. They never ran out of beans all day long and now the soup kitchen walk-in freezer is packed with produce frozen for winter. It took a community of friends and supporters to make this event a huge success….and successful it was…..if you attended or participated in any way YOU were part of the miracle of the stringbeans…where did all those stringbeans come from?

Taken a break to enjoy some ice cream

Tammy brought a whole gang

This is actually fun

enjoying good conversation

Extention Agents and Master Gardeners helped out

Mom and son spending quality time

The deck was a great place to sit and string beans

Family stringin can be educational too

These ladies from Madison incorporated string'in into their marketing day

Mom said her son wanted to watch the musicians

Living4Hymn donated a 2.5 hour set

some mighty pretty bean stringers

Manna Meal Bean String’in helped fill the freezer for winter. The total weight on the beans after strung was 300 lbs And 40 lb of corn. It was a great afternoon at the Capitol Market and the music was wonderful.  Thanks to all who participated and many thanks to Living4 Hymn for donating their time and talent.

Many, Many, Many thanks What a blessing  all the volunteers were that day……..

And the girls and guy that blanched and froze all the beans and corn that late afternoon in the Manna Meal kitchen.

working over boiling pots of water, blanching beans

Packing blanched beans for freezing

It started thirty-two years ago and has required multiple thousands of volunteer hours of service to make the Manna Meal Soup Kitchen all it is today. In honor of this dedication, volunteers past and present were acknowledged with the presentation of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award at the Charleston Civic Center on July 21, 2010. Jean Simpson accepted the beautiful crystal etched award on behalf of the volunteers.

Manna Meal Volunteers have provided meals to 1.12 million people since 1978. Every week, more than 75 volunteers are on hand to serve breakfast and lunch each day.

The award is crystal clear and a bit difficult to see. It will be on display at the Soup Kitchen for your enjoyment too.

The Manna Meal display table at the Volunteerism Conference July 20-22

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Annie Boyko Campbell 93, of Charleston laid herself down to sleep with Jesus, but instead of awakening to do her daily morning food run for Manna Meal Soup Kitchen, she went home with him Saturday, May 15, 2010.

Annie was a registered nurse at CAMC General Hospital for more than 50 years and  a member of Saint Marks United Methodist Church for 50 years.

She gave her time and energy to Manna Meal Soup Kitchen from 1977 until May 14, 2010 the day before she passed. Annie went to the Delaware Krogers seven days a week, 365 days a year with her son Woody, to gather the out of date food. She would then stay in the kitchen and fold napkins, sort containers, and help prepare food for two more hours.                                                                                                                                                           e She gave of herself completely and will be greatly missed.

Annie received the 2009 Jefferson Award for outstanding public service contributions to their communities from Governor Joe Manchin and WCHS-TV and WVAH-TV.

We all thank you Annie Campbell for the years of service and giving.                                                                                                                                                       God bless you.

I hope you will join us at this years MannaFest . The second annual General Seafood reunion.

Tickets on sale at the following locations:

Manna Meal – 1105 Quarrier St. Chas, WV  – 304-345-7121

The Purple Moon – 906 Quarrier St. Chas, WV – 340-345-0123

Geraniums – 1011 Bridge Rd. Chas, WV – 304-344-1350