YPOD Business Tour - Manna Soup Kitchen Garden

YPOD trickled into the parking lot one summer evening for a tour of Manna Soup Kitchen. Made up of friends old and new, YPOD greet each other warmly, curious to hear each other’s latest. 

Board member Nora Stafford led us through the gardens in bloom, explaining a Manna belief:

“Everyone should be able to eat fresh, healthy food - not only government commodities.”

For COVID Manna switched to grab-n-go meals. They teach life skills, connect people with transit passes and SNAP food assistance. It’s becoming a diverse resource center, or as Nora puts it,

“Instead of a hand out, it’s a hand up.”

A grocery store is the next project, where people can select items of their choosing - another means of self-empowerment. 

The Carvers of Carver’s Brewing Company are leasing personal land to Manna - two acres of extraordinary soil. From the taste of it, garden manager Kyler Grandkoski knows his stuff! We sampled juicy blackberries and grapes off the vine.

Like a good workout, I’m always glad I showed up for a YPOD event. Meeting people, deepening community ties...always with a background hum of non-icky networking. In under two hours I felt inspired to volunteer at Carver’s Farm -and- made an unexpected business connection!

We hope to see you at the next YPOD events: See upcoming events 

Maddie Côté
Freelance Copywriter