Manna Cafe

Tonight at Manna Cafe, we prepared 140 Sloppy Joe dinners with mac and cheese for our guests. We’re so thankful for the support of State Auto and their former employee Rebekah for cooking tonight’s food.

Our dear friends at State Auto provided dinner tonight at Manna Cafe for 55 guests. Every guest received a to-go dinner containing two grilled cheese sandwiches, a cup of hot tomato soup, fresh vegetables, a fruit cup and a bottle of water. The grilled cheese sandwiches were a big hit with everyone and we can’t thank State Auto enough for their continuing support of Manna Cafe.

A big thank you to our friends at Tifereth Israel for funding tonight’s Manna Cafe. Fifty-seven chicken salad sandwiches, including a fruit cup and chips, were given out to our guests tonight. These are photos of some of the volunteers who show up each week to prepare food with care and love for our friends in the community.

The wonderful volunteers of the Downtown Columbus Kiwanis Club made Johnny Marzetti for 80 people tonight. We so appreciate their dedication and support for Manna Cafe and the people we serve every month.

The wonderful State Auto employees made meatball subs for Manna Cafe tonight. Eighty people were served at the door tonight, with another 36 dinners kept for the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless warming center tomorrow. State Auto employees volunteer once a month and their meal prep system works like clockwork.

Scenes from today’s Manna Cafe. Due to the renovations being done to the kitchen, Manna volunteers prepared turkey and cheese sandwiches, chips, fresh vegetables, cookies and a fruit cup for 85 people.

Tonight’s dinner at Manna Cafe was Deron Bender’s homemade chili with cheese and crackers — always a popular meal with our friends. Deron’s friends Sapna and Vijay Shetty of Powell donated the funds to provide the meal tonight in memory of Sapna’s sister, Sarika, who passed from breast cancer almost five years ago. Sarika’s birthday was last week. In addition, they stopped over at the warming center and donated a bunch of blankets to the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless. What a wonderful and generous way to honor Sarika. Thank you Sapna, Vijay and Deron!

Deron Bender (left), a longtime Manna Cafe volunteer, dropped off a bunch of blankets from him and his neighbors at the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless warming center at Broad Street United Methodist. Warming center program director Jonelle Watkins (second from left) and her staff were on hand to receive the gift of blankets.

A lot of love and kindness goes into making dinners for Manna Cafe. Volunteer Cecelia hand-wrote a Christmas card that was put inside every dinner handed out tonight.

Dinner at Manna Cafe tonight was provided by the wonderful volunteers from Tifereth Israel synagogue. Over 106 tuna casserole dinners were distributed.

The Kiwanis Club of Downtown Columbus provided a wonderful lasagna dinner tonight at Manna Cafe for anyone who wanted one. The Kiwanis are long-time supporters of Manna Cafe and always do a terrific job with their team of volunteers. Over 120 dinners were prepared and we can’t thank them enough for their support.

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Tonight’s dinner at Manna Cafe was chili mac and cheese provided by the wonderful people at State Auto, whose corporate office is across the street from Broad Street United Methodist. Once a month, State Auto employees bring dinner for Manna Cafe and we can’t thank them enough for all their support.

Please note that the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless warming center at Broad Street United Methodist will be open Thanksgiving Day and serving food.

Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Please appreciate the time with family and friends, and the gift of food and shelter, which is so often taken for granted. We’re thankful for our wonderful and caring group of volunteers who put together dinners every week for anyone who wants one.

Tonight at Manna Cafe we served 111 chili dinners. Deron Bender and his step-daughter and her friend dished out his homemade chili with cheese & crackers, fresh veggies, cookies and a water. Deron's friend and co-worker, Julie Hykes, sponsored the meal and four fellow alumni of Deron’s Lima High School class of 1988 donated in memory of five male classmates who passed away to cover the cost of dinner this week. Deron and his alumni friends donate a meal once a month for Manna Cafe and we are so appreciative.

Construction has started on the kitchen renovation at Broad Street United Methodist. We’re excited about the update and modernization of the kitchen. There will be some adjustments and logistical challenges over the next few months, but the Manna Cafe crew made 120 dinners tonight for anyone who wanted one.

The Columbus Coalition for the Homeless warming center is now open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you see someone in need of warmth or resources, you can direct them to the Broad Street United Methodist Church or call the SID Hotline at 614-228-5718.
The warming center also accepts donations of hats, gloves, coffee supplies (cups, coffee, cream, sugar), snacks and hand warmers. To learn more about how you can help, visit columbushomeless.org.

Scenes from tonight’s Manna Cafe. We are so thankful for tonight’s dinner sponsor, the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing (OCCH), who provided a wonderful meal of fried chicken, mac and cheese, green beans, a roll and cookie. Volunteers from OCCH and Broad Street United Methodist packed 120 dinners for anyone who wanted one.