A Manna Storehouse makeover

The donor requested to remain anonymous.

The building became run down over the years, “such that the City of Weatherford, last year, made a proposal that we move to another location, because an outside party desired to purchase our property,” said Donald Sorensen, vice president of Manna Storehouse. Shortly after, Manna received a generous donation which allowed for a remodel.

With the donation funds, volunteer staff decided to freshly paint the outside of the building, restripe parking lots, upgrade the bathroom and kitchen, add fans to the warehouse, and paint a western-themed mural on the outside of the building.

The updates are “elevating our presence here in the city,” said Becky Powell, Manna’s Board of Directors secretary, “It really helped to boost volunteer morale.”

The mural alongside the east side of the building displays a young girl being helped up onto a horse – embodying the message of what Manna is about, providing help to those in need.

Support through generosity

Manna began when a group of church-goers joined together with the joint passion of helping others. Forty-one years later, that same goal remains true.

“There's a domino effect,” Powell said. “Because of some huge expense or illness, they can't afford basic stuff. So, there's nothing like being able to give someone help when they're in that situation.”

Through donations from businesses, private trusts, and individuals; grants; and support from the Salvation Army, Manna is able to provide qualifying individuals/families with food, clothing, furniture, household goods, utility assistance, and pharmaceutical-needs help, according to Sorensen. To qualify for assistance, individuals or families have to meet the state income level guidelines.

“A major part of our operation is made possible by donated clothing, furniture, household items, books, small and large appliances, microwaves, bedding, and many other useful items,” he said. “We accept almost anything that is clean and usable.”

Garage sales are the main fundraising event Manna hosts, opening up their doors to the community to purchase items with the intent of money made funneling back into aiding those in need. Garage sales are hosted the weekend before the first Monday of every month and a one-day mid-month sale.

Making a change

Providing hope and support comes in many forms.

For Powell, she is reminded of an instance around Christmas. She was helping out with Santa’s Helpers, Manna’s program to provide gifts, when a woman “came in and said her daughter loved to play the flute and was playing it at school, but could not afford to get a flute,” Powell said.

Volunteers took it upon themselves to speak with a high school band director. The band director donated his daughter's old flute to make the family's Christmas wish come true.

“The look on the woman's face (when given the gift for her daughter) … I will never forget that,” Powell said.

Volunteering and helping others at Manna “means we're doing what we're supposed to do in this life,” Powell said. “We're supposed to be emulating Jesus. We're supposed to be His hands and feet, and we're supposed to see Christ in everybody that we meet, and that's what we do here.”