EACH YEAR MANNA provides more than one million nutritious meals to children in family and group day care homes through our Child Care Food Program. Through our Food Stamp Outreach and Client Advocacy, we reach thousands with information about food stamp eligibility and MANNA staff personally assists 400-500 families annually with applying for and receiving food stamp benefits.
2006-07 MANNA works with Tennesseans for Fair Taxation (TFT) to reduce the tax on food. MANNA works to make more positive changes to the Food Stamp Program through the 2007 Farm Bill.
2005 MANNA begins Food Stamp Outreach to Hickman and Montgomery Counties.
2001-03 MANNA advocates for positive changes to the Food Stamp Program through the 2002 Farm Bill at the federal level; then advocates with the State to implement state options that increase eligibility for low-income people in Tennessee.
1995-99 Cuts in Food Stamps, Federal government calls for “welfare reform,” program called “Families First” in Tennessee. MANNA hires a staff person to work with Families First policy and recipients, and creates Alternative Connections. Food Stamp Outreach expands.
1990-94 MANNA continues Food Stamp Outreach and advocacy.
1989 Federal matching funds for Food Stamp Outreach are available, and MANNA starts FSO project work on welfare reform (AFDC Coalition).
1986-88 MANNA works to take the sales tax off of food, Tennesseans for Fair Taxation (TFT) begins.
1985 Expansion of WIC in Nashville.
1984 State School Breakfast mandate passes and WIC starts on a pilot basis.
1983 MANNA maintains campaign for state School Breakfast program, and local School Breakfast mandate passes. We begin initiative to bring WIC (Women, Infants and Children) to Nashville.
1982 MANNA revamps organizing of local campaign around School Breakfast and begins Food Stamp monitoring and advocacy. The Child Care Food Program continues despite cuts in funding.
1981 Cuts in the Federal budget result in cuts in poverty and food programs, and in MANNA staff (VISTA, CETA).
1980 The Tennessee Hunger Coalition and MANNA become separate organizations.
1979 MANNA contracts with the state to provide Food Stamp Outreach.
1978 MANNA organizes a local campaign around School Breakfast, food for the elderly and nutrition education (Eclipse of the Blue Moon Food).
1977 Staff is involved in national advocacy…formulating the Food Stamp Act. MANNA starts organizing a statewide network (Tennessee Hunger Coalition). MANNA organizes the coalition that starts the Nashville Second Harvest Food Bank. MANNA establishes the Child Care Food Program.
1976 MANNA hires first staff person, Janet Christianson (now Janet Wolf).
1975 Community group meets at Dialogue House to discuss domestic and world hunger and decides to form an organization…MANNA.