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Volunteers Deliver 20 Tons of Donated Food to Manna House
Food Bank volunteers
Volunteers from local LDS congregations and churches delivered nonperishable food on March 16 to Manna House in Rincon for distribution to those in need. (Submitted photo)

About 30 volunteers from local churches gathered to help unload the truck holding approximately 40,000 pounds of shelf-stable food on March 16 at Manna House in Rincon.

Manna House Ministries has served the Effingham County community for more than 30 years by providing food, clothing, and household items monthly to assist the needs of 800 to 900 households.  In 2021 Manna House distributed more than 1 million pounds of food to those in need.

Throughout the year, Manna House hosts events to help these families with school and holiday needs. The non-profit organization relies upon the donations of others, with about 60 volunteers who give more than 2,500 hours of their combined time each month.  Manna House works with several local church organizations for volunteers and donations.

Richard Maseda, president of low county LDS congregations, said “We’re just trying to get as many Christian and religious organizations together to help with this service-oriented work.”  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints partnered with the Reverend Dr. Preston Harrison, Sr. of the Blackjack Baptist Church and Pastor LaQuine Pinkney from the Church of the Harvest, both in Rincon. The food will be shared with 27 other churches that have been in contact with Rev. Harrison.

The volunteers unloaded, sorted, and packed donations to get them ready for distribution.

With contributions being low recently, Manna House Director Lisa Bush was happy to receive the food delivery. “In a world surrounded by negativity, it’s heartwarming to hear of so many individuals and organizations willing to devote this much time and energy to help those in need,” said Michael Cook, one of the volunteers that day.

Manna House Assistant Director Liz Quarterman expressed her thanks to the local community. “I’m just in awe at the amount of food donated with a (expiration) date of 2025,” she said. “There were so many loving and sweet people from both Georgia and South Carolina there to help bag up enough food for at least two drive-through days. I know the Lord had a hand in this food delivery.”