Meals provided to Manawa area families
By Holly Neumann
With over 250 distributions under its belt, Neighbor to Neighbor is making a difference in the Manawa community.
“Neighbor to Neighbor began as a serendipitous happenstance, but its effects have been far-reaching in our community,” said Brenda VanderZanden, who directs the program with Brenda Thyssen.
According to VanderZanden, Brenda and Mike Thyssen visited a church in the Fox Valley with a community food pantry program.
“After church, they were offered bread for their chickens,” she said. “Conversations evolved and it became apparent the pantry’s issue – what to do with excess foods – could be our solution on how to feed families with need in Manawa.”
“Neighbor to Neighbor, a 501c3, brings together cooks, food and people in need within the School District of Manawa,” VanderZanden said. “Need is not limited to financial circumstances. It includes elderly, chemo patients, medical recovery, more kids than food, catastrophic loss and veterans.”
There is no charge to participate, no application and no judgment, she said.
Participants receive a frozen meal that serves four to six people, along with reheating instructions. The food comes from excess overages from food pantries in the Fox Valley and donations from local food manufacturers.
“Food pantries get weekly donations from grocery stores and with more coming in, they have to find an outlet for leftovers, overage, excess,” VanderZanden said.
The program has been incredibly successful in Manawa, VanderZanden said.
“The community’s response is deep gratitude and appreciation,” she said.
Neighbor to Neighbor’s mission follows Mark 12:31: “The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than this.”
Distributions take place from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at Manawa United Methodist Church, 655 Depot St., Manawa.
“We welcome volunteers and financial donations/sponsorship to assure our sustainability,” VanderZanden said.
Gift cards from Thrivent, Kwik Trip, Visa, Master Card and Discovery are also accepted for pantry staples and carry-out containers.
Donations can be dropped off in Manawa at Hello Beautiful, 329 S. Bridge St.; or the Busy Bean, 343 S. Bridge St.
Neighbor to Neighbor was made possible due to a grant from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund established by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and United Way Fox Cities.
Anyone wishing to get involved to help can contact VanderZanden at 920-427-6814.