Historical Timeline

MANNA was formed in 1990 by seven members of The First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, to help nourish men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS.

In the early days of the organization, stigma and ignorance stood in the way of individuals and families receiving many of the services that were available to them. For MANNA, food was a way for caring members of the community to gain access and begin to help those in the greatest need.

From this modest initiative to serve food to those with HIV/AIDS, MANNA has grown into a vibrant volunteer driven, non-sectarian non-profit organization serving men, women and children in the greater Philadelphia area and Southern New Jersey.

MANNA expanded its mission in June 2006, to serve anyone who is at acute nutritional risk due to a life-threatening illness and continues to help those in the greatest need.

"Immediately we recognized the food we brought was important, but what it symbolized was even more critical. It wasn`t just bread for the day. It was an affirmation that the community still cared." - Kenwyn Smith, A MANNA founder, from his book MANNA In the Wilderness of AIDS

January 22, 1990

• First meals served donated by local restaurants

April 26, 1990

• MANNA registered as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization

May 1990

• First "A Show of Hands" Art Auction for MANNA

March 1991

• All food now prepared in MANNA's own kitchen (in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church, 21st & Walnut Streets)

May 15, 1993

• First "Shut Up and Dance" benefit performance for MANNA by Dancers of Pennsylvania Ballet
• MANNA moves to 18 South 20th Street

April 1994

• First Modified Meals begin

August 1994

• LifeSPAN (Life Support to People with AIDS through Nutrition) founded; MANNA begins providing nutritional counseling and education

March 1995

• MANNA named beneficiary of ChefAID

September 1995

• Saturday deliveries begin

October 1996

• Group meals begin

August 1997

• MANNA moves to current location, 2323 Ranstead Street, Philadelphia - 7,500+ square feet

November 1997

First "Pie in the Sky" gourmet pie sale for MANNA

May 1998

* Frozen Meal Program begins

July 1998

• 1,000,000th meal delivered

December 1999

• MANNA serves 500,000 meals in one year

October 2000

• 2,000,000th meal delivered

April 2001

• LifeSPAN expands from 5 to 18 clinics

October 2001

• Major suburban outreach begins

August 2002

• 3,000,000th meal delivered

March 2004

• 4,000,000th meal delivered

December 1, 2005

• 5,000,000th meal delivered

March 2006

• Shut Up & Dance 15th Anniversary

June 2006

• MANNA expands its mission to deliver nourishment to anyone at acute nutritional risk due to a life-threatening illness.

November 2006

• MANNA purchases the first of six hot and cold delivery vehicles

September 2007

• MANNA launches new website

January 2008

• MANNA sells M Catering (formerly MANNA Catering, Inc.)
• MANNA begins tracking program outcomes using national standards

February 2008

• MANNA brands six delivery vehicles with MANNA logo and phone number

March 2008

• MANNA begins major renovations to its kitchen and administrative offices

April 2008

• 6,000,000th meal delivered

May 2008

• MANNA kitchen staff moves back into its newly renovated facility at 12 S. 23rd Street and begins serving clients 100% of their nutrition needs

June 2008

• MANNA celebrates the grand re-opening of its new headquarters, The Steven Korman Nutrition Center. This facility allows MANNA to double production to serve nearly one million meals to clients annually. Clients now receive meal delivery once a week with a supply of 3 frozen meals a day for a period of 7 days.
• MANNA is host to the 15th annual ANSA (Association of Nutrition Services Agencies) conference

October 2008

• MANNA launches Pie in the Sky microsite
• MANNA announces new spring event Nourish
• MANNA named Champion in Action for our work in community health care

November 2008

• MANNA sells and distributes more than 12,000 pies for Pie in the Sky 2009

March 2009

• MANNA announces collaboration with Calcutta House
• Dancers of Pennsylvania Ballet present the 17th annual performance of Shut Up & Dance to benefit MANNA

September 2009

• MANNA staff hosts a Volunteer Appreciation Cookout in our loading dock.
• MANNA celebrated the preparation and delivery of its 7 millionth meal.

October 2009

• MANNA honors Dr. Mehmet C. Oz for his dedication to educating people about The Power of Nutrition.