When the stigma and ignorance of AIDS was at its height, those suffering from this terminal illness were often shunned by family, friends and colleagues. MANNA volunteers provided the love and care that often kept these men from being totally abandoned.

Today, MANNA is a vibrant nonprofit, nonsectarian, volunteer-intensive organization that serves men and women who are at acute nutritional risk and battling ANY life-threatening illness. Our mission is focused on improving the health and quality of life of those we have the privilege to serve.

Timeline Highlights:

• January 22, 1990 – First meals delivered, donated by local restaurants
• April 26, 1990 – Registered as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
• March, 1991 – Opened first makeshift kitchen in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church, 21st & Walnut Streets, Philadelphia
• May 15, 1991- First Shut Up & Dance benefit performed by dancers of Pennsylvania Ballet
• May, 1992 – Opened first major kitchen and office facility at 20th & Sansom Streets
• April, 1994 – Started nutrition counseling services and introduced first meal modifications
• August, 1997 – Moved to current location at 2323 Ranstead Street
• November, 1997 First Pie in the Sky pie sale
• May, 1998 – Began freezing meals, allowing for multiple-day meal delivery
• July, 1998 – ONE MILLIONTH MEAL delivered
• October, 2001 – Expanded service to include suburbs
• December 1, 2005 FIVE MILLIONTH MEAL delivered, World AIDS Day 2005
• January, 2006 – Launched pilot program with Abramson Cancer Center, serving 30 individuals battling cancer
• June, 2006 – Officially expanded mission to include anyone at acute nutritional risk due to any life-threatening illness, not just those living with HIV/AIDS
• June, 2007 – Launched a $3 million capital campaign:  Expanding the Power of Nourishment
• October, 2007- Purchased one refrigerated truck to supplement small fleet of hatchback cars for meal delivery
• January, 2008 – Began tracking program outcomes using national standards
• February, 2008 – Replaced car fleet with six refrigerated freezer trucks to improve meal delivery safety and efficiency
• June 9, 2008 – Celebrated the ribbon cutting and grand re-opening of the newly refurbished Steven Korman Nutrition Center, our headquarters and production kitchen
• June 12, 2008 – Expanded service to 3 meals a day, 7 days a week (from 2 or 3 meals, 5 days a week)
• June, 2010 – Launched a first-of-its kind research project entitled Food as Medicine: Reducing Health Care Costs with Comprehensive Medical Nutrition Therapy