MANNA - THE DURANGO SOUP KITCHEN

Resource Center Program: On March 28, 2022, we launched the Community Kitchen with Take-out Window/Food Market and Resource Center. Manna's new model provides case management, outreach and supportive services for families/individuals who are food insecure, marginalized, homeless and/or at-risk of homelessness in La Plata County and the surrounding area. We connect program participants with core services that help people meet basic needs, case management and positive encouragement to help them reach their goals. Manna's Bilingual (Spanish/English) Navigator and Outreach position is an advocate and liaison for program participants that overcomes language barriers and supports an inclusive environment. Resource Center Navigators provide supportive services, service navigation, housing assistance, job development, case management and positive encouragement to help program participants overcome social determinants of health barriers and help them become self-sufficient. In August of 2024, Manna started our first Lived Experience Advisory Board. The LEAB is a leadership development body consisting of diverse members with current and past experience of homelessness. This platform allows members to learn about and evaluate the system of care, make recommendations for improvement, and assist with the implementation of Manna programs and services. LEABs goal is to shift power from traditional systems of care to those with lived experience. In 2024, we held a series of community meetings for both our Food Market Operations and Housing Programs. These meetings are inclusive, with interpretation provided in both English and Spanish. Manna's Food Market Listening Sessions provide a forum for participants to give feedback on the policies and practices of our Food Market. We also gain input on which dietary and cultural foods are most needed in the market. Manna's Housing Meetings have allowed us to learn more about the specific barriers that various populations in our region experience in obtaining stable housing. With this feedback, we have been able to create housing programs that better meet the unique needs of housing insecure populations in rural Southwest Colorado.

Community Kitchen Program: The Take-out Window allows for equitable food access andcenters around participant choice. It is open five days a week, four hours a day. Everyone is welcome to receive meals. People can select a variety of food options, including 2,430 lbs of fresh produce grown on site in the Manna Garden. In 2024, 48,818 meals were distributed. Mannas free Food Market is set up like a grocery store with refrigerators,produce and shopping carts. Participants are able to freely select From an array of nutritious foods based on dietary needs, culturally appropriate and desired food choices. The Food Market is open four days a week and the hours of operation accommodate those on varied work/school schedules. In 2024, we saw 13,312 visits and 318,797 pounds of food were distributed. The visits were made by 2,418 unique individuals.