March 28, 2025 • 17 mins
Noah George welcomes Micah Chrisman from Manna Food Bank to discuss the organization's incredible journey of resilience and rebuilding following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. The timing couldn't have been more dramatic - just two days before the hurricane struck, Manna's board had approved pursuing a new facility in Mills River, as they had outgrown their location on a flood plain. Then disaster hit, destroying their entire food reserves and warehouses with a 20-foot wall of water.
Micah shares the remarkable story of how Manna never missed a beat despite losing everything except their fleet of trucks. Within days, they were operating emergency distributions at the Western North Carolina Farmers Market, serving over 8,000 families who had lost everything. The community response was extraordinary, with volunteers driving from as far as North Dakota to deliver supplies, and financial support pouring in from across the country.
The conversation reveals the shocking scale of food insecurity in Western North Carolina - Manna serves approximately 158,000 people monthly across 16 counties through their network of 225 partner agencies. These numbers have more than doubled since pre-COVID days, demonstrating the persistent economic challenges facing many families. Through partnerships with major grocery chains and local farmers, Manna provides not just canned goods but fresh produce, meat, cheese, and eggs to those in need. Now, they're "building an airplane while flying it" - establishing their new 84,000-square-foot facility while continuing to serve their community without interruption. Want to be part of this inspiring mission? Visit mannafoodbank.org to learn how you can volunteer or support their critical work feeding our neighbors.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The George Real Estate Group radio broadcast is
celebrating 10 years on WHKP.
The George Real Estate Group iscelebrating 10 years on the
radio, live every Thursdaymorning at 10.05 on WHKP 107.7
FM and AM 1450 and streamingonline at WHkpcom Each Friday
(00:25):
morning at 845,.
The George Real Estate Grouppresents the Hometown Hero Award
to someone in our community whogoes above and beyond to make
our hometown a better place tolive.
Here's this week's HometownHero Show.
It's 845 and it's time now forour George Real Estate Group
(00:46):
Hometown Hero Series and it isalways a pleasure to gather with
Noah George from the GeorgeReal Estate Group to talk a
little real estate and talkabout some of the hometown
heroes and the organizations inour area that do so much in our
(01:09):
area that do so much.
We're seeing so much being doneright now in another crisis
that we are found ourselves in,but anyway, good morning, noah.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Well, good morning and, yes, so grateful to be here
every Friday morning sponsoringthe Hometown Heroes series, and
this is the highlight of myweek.
I know you and I get to gatheraround the mics and have the
conversation, uh, withincredible men and women serving
the community that you know, inour community has gone through
so much and so, uh, you know, Iheard something that was so
(01:35):
interesting yesterday.
Uh, you know, yesterday, Iguess yesterday was a six month
anniversary of helene and I Isaw it, it said so eloquently.
six months ago we were prayingfor relief from the rain and
then oh yeah yesterday we werepraying for rain for relief,
(01:56):
yeah, from the fires, and againit's a very sobering and
challenging uh you knowexperience that our community is
going through, um, just in bothevents and, of course, our
thoughts and prayers.
But again we're here everyfriday morning sponsoring the
hometown hero series and thereal estate market is uh
continuing to grow I'm sure itis.
(02:16):
The market continues to move.
I mean we're january, february.
We're up six percent inhenderson county with the number
of homes sold this jan Februaryversus the previous January
February.
The prices are holding.
Our average single-family homeprice is around $550,000.
Still low inventory levelshovering around 400 active
single-family homes, and thatfluctuates, but I mean every
(02:39):
single day.
We're helping people buy, know,buy, sell, invest in real
estate.
We have people that we'rehelping with their real estate
portfolios, with, uh, you know,with their rental properties or
commercial properties.
We have clients, uh, wanting todiscuss giving their real
estate to non-profits and andand helping and giving back.
I mean there's so many scenariosthat we are.
(03:00):
We've had the privilege to helppeople walk through that's's at
the George Real Estate Group.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
And Noah, join me in welcoming Micah Crispin from man
of Food Bank to the mics.
How you doing, Micah.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Hey y'all, thanks for having me and appreciate you
bearing with me as I'm.
You know, I'm pretty sure Idodged like three fires on the
way here you know, oh gosh, ohman All forms of traffic and
things.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Uh, yeah, hearts go out to folks out there it's
crazy right now.
It really really is and uh, youcan see the smoke and haze.
We have a an air quality alertfor henderson county.
But we appreciate you bravingall the elements to come visit
with us.
We want to talk about man offood bank and uh, and we want to
(03:45):
really officially welcome youto henderson county.
Uh, that's the exciting part ofthe whole thing.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Welcome here to henderson county well, hey, on
behalf of you know, myself andall of our staff, uh, thank you
for welcoming us.
Um, we were, you know, what wassupposed to be a two-year
transition.
We were exploring this facilityhere in mills river um, north
carolina.
The warehouse it's a formerfedex facility yeah two days
(04:13):
before the storm hit um, ourboard approved us to pursue it
okay, we were in the duediligence phase um, and so we
knew that our former facilityoff of Swan Noah River Road in
Asheville was.
You know, back in 2018, ourboard had said hey you know
we're on a flood plain we needto think about we've reached
(04:35):
capacity issues.
We need to start looking for anew facility.
But then COVID hit.
Cost of everything went upRight right.
Looked at exploring and buildinga place that was not attainable
, so then we were looking atthis place, mills river, and
then, two days later, uh, rightbefore helene, you know um, we
lost everything, and so that wasit.
You lost everything yes, ourentire food reserves.
(04:58):
Our two warehouses umeverything except for our fleet
of trucks.
We had moved them to higherground right and we had prepared
our space, moved all the foodup off the ground, um, in
anticipation that there might bea little bit of water that gets
in and you know, covers thefloor type of thing, and didn't
expect to have total loss, yeahtotal loss 20 foot.
(05:20):
You know flood surge of wateracross that whole area.
And so next, uh, two weeks wewere doing, you know,
distributions at the WesternNorth Carolina farmers market
and then the sellers of thiswarehouse at Mills River, they
gave us an emergency lease forthe space, so we got the keys.
Two weeks post, the stormStarted receiving all of the
(05:42):
donations there from across thecountry, from our sister food
banks and you know Charlotte,and then we closed on the
property in November.
So we're officially neighbors.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Oh, that's great.
It's a lot to consider andprocess everything that happened
.
Let's back up, though, forthose.
You would think everybody knowsabout Manifood Bank but let's
not make that assumption.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
You guys serve.
Was it 16 counties?
Yes, sir, yeah, 16 countieshere in western north carolina,
um, and so, yeah, we're allacross this region.
We drive all the way up to theedge of tennessee and georgia,
um, some of our most ruralcommunities and, as a food bank,
we, uh, are part of the feedingthe carolina's national network
.
So, across the country there areover 200, plus food banks, and
(06:33):
so we're a non-profit.
That's part of feeding americaand our whole mission.
We started over 40 um almost 42years ago now, in 1983, and
yeah, it was just a littleoperation in the basement of a
church at that time doing somefood distribution, but then
within our first two years wequickly outgrew that space and,
(06:58):
honestly, the need for food inthe region has just continuously
grown.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Well, let's talk about food insecurity.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
I mean, that's a real thing yeah, yeah, even before
helene struck, we had um monthlyaverage across our 16 county
service region.
We were serving about 158 000people on average across this
region annually um.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
That was monthly 158,000 people.
That's our average.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
That's significant.
These are individuals, yes, sir.
So what we do is as a food bank, we have the capacity again,
when we have the warehouse andall these things, we bring the
food in, we have storage spaceand then we distribute it to.
We have a network of about 225partner agencies.
So those are food pantries likeyour, you know place that your
(07:52):
church is, homeless shelters Imean, they could be a lot of
different.
You know folks, you know a lotof different variables or what
it looks like, but these arejust our, your neighbors,
feeding neighbors kind of things, and so they get those that
food brought to them fromManifood Bank and then it kind
of gets distributed more locallyin people's community centers
(08:13):
etc.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
And you guys deal a lot.
You mentioned it a minute agoabout trucks coming in.
You deal with big corporationsthat donate food.
Some of those Tell us.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Yeah, so we have some incredible partnerships.
We work with grocery storevendors, so you name it Ingalls,
publix, food Lion.
They'll help us by giving us,they'll donate food to us and
help support our fooddistribution.
And then also we work withlocal farmers, and so that's
(08:51):
been.
A big thing too is that we'lluse some of our food sourcing
money and we'll buy it directlyfrom farmers so we can have
fresh produce, meat, cheese,eggs to be able to give out to
the community.
And, as we know, like grocerystore prices and economic
opportunities, folks arestruggling, and so we thought,
(09:12):
after COVID, the numbers wouldgo down.
Never did, never did.
They just have continuouslygone up, and so I think
pre-COVID we were, on average,serving around 70,000 folks a
month throughout our networkyeah, that doubled um yeah for
those four years of covid it gotup to about 135,000 and, like I
(09:33):
said just last year, ouraverage um was 158,000.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
So it's hard to comprehend yeah so and again on.
So we have this ongoing needwith with food insecurity here
in western North Carolina,compounded with everything that
everybody went through.
And then you guys yourselves-oh my gosh, I mean it's a lot.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Yeah, it's really a miracle.
I'm blown away by our staffevery day.
I mean, we just knew we had tojump back into action.
We didn't skip a beat.
Really, I mean two days of justkind of doing a you know a
staff check.
You know, that was just likeour first with the blackout and
communications just like, hey,how's everyone doing?
Can you find out who's on yourteam alive and well and right?
(10:20):
We did have a couple staff whodid lose everything lost their
entire homes as well over inblack mountain.
But then you know, we juststarted immediately like all
right, we have our trucks and wedon't have a place to receive
and distribute food.
Where can we do that?
And when western north carolinafarmers market, some folks
called us and said, hey, weheard you lost everything.
If you can get the food andresources, you can bring it here
(10:42):
to the farmer's market.
So that's what we did.
We just started getting thosecalls and just said, hey, bring
it all.
Bring it all to the farmer'smarket.
So that's what we did.
We just started getting thosecalls and just said, hey, bring
it all.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Bring it all to the farmer's market wow, you're
bringing back the emotions ofthat time and oh my gosh, and
how, uh, and how this communityjust rallied and, yes, there was
so much help offered and andreceived by you people and many
others.
You're bringing all that backto me now.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
We served over 8,000 families in those first two
weeks post the storm and I mean,people would come, you know,
and this was just like a kind ofdrive-through experience Folks
coming just to pick up water,groceries and people.
They had lost everything.
They had everything packed intheir car, their families, their
kids, kids, and we had peoplefrom all over the country just
(11:28):
bringing supplies.
So sometimes someone pulls upwith a truck and a trailer full
of water and they're like wejust drove down from north
dakota and you know spent thelast you know day and a half
just driving straight here, andso, yeah, it's amazing to see
how our mountain people arepulled together.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Yeah, well, gosh, I could talk all day about this
and uh, uh, but I guess we needto talk now about how, uh we go
forward and and the growth thatyou're in.
I I noticed one quote there wasa real long story in the
ashville watchdog by john boylerecently, who really went into
detail about manna and how uh,and.
(12:06):
And one of the quotes I thinkcame from someone in your
organization that now youdescribe it kind of like trying
to build an airplane whileyou're flying it as you, as you
are getting your new digs inorder out there.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Yes, absolutely.
Yeah, it's a every day is a new, a new uh trial to uh find
solutions for you know um.
But we're we're pullingtogether right now.
Yeah, we're upfitting.
Like I said, we're expeditingour upfitting of our current
facility.
So one of our big projects isbuilding a new fridge, freezer,
cooler space, something likegrocery store size styles that
(12:43):
you know folks don't want justcanned goods and we want to make
sure that we can provide freshfood like fridge tractor trailer
wow trucks parked outside.
That and that just keep foodrefrigerated, and so we have 15
of those what an operation.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I mean what an operation, you guys.
The new space is going to be 84is 84 000 square feet.
Yes, sir, some of the notes Ihave here is, I mean the, the,
the, the building plus theoutfits, over 12 million million
.
Is that some of the notes Ihave here, which includes a new
refrigeration and freezer space?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
I mean just an incredible undertaking, yeah,
and we're so thankful we hadsuch a loving outpouring of
support that we, you know, Imean, even though our losses
were at $28 million, manna, justyou know we shared with folks
that we've raised 37 milliondollars.
That's from across the countryfrom people locally here in the
(13:39):
region.
Um, and, yeah, the westernnorth carolina community
foundation.
They actually helped us umclose the funding gap on this
new facility.
Um between them and the northcar Community Foundation.
They gave us $7 millionIncredible.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Yeah, and going forward to volunteer.
What we're talking about hereis done by a lot of volunteers.
Oh my gosh.
Yes, and going forward in thelast minute, we have here going
forward.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Folks can still volunteer if they'd like, and
how do they get a hold of youguys and communicate?
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, folks can go to mannafoodbankorg and you can
see right there.
If you're a person who needsfood or resources, you can click
on find food near you.
But also if you want tovolunteer and come help us pack
food and help us be a part ofthis core mission, just yeah,
visit mannafoodbankorg.
We'd love to have you.
We've had a huge outpouring ofsupport over 2,000 new
(14:35):
volunteers since the storm.
Folks have just really wantedto jump into action to serve.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Micah, thank you so much for braving the elements
and being with us this morning.
Noah, we always thank you somuch.
You've got a certificate therefor Micah to take back to the
Manna Food Bank crews.
And next week we have Rosie andMatt Rogers from Three Chop
(15:01):
Sandwich Shop who lost theirhome in Polk County.
They call it the Cabin of Hope.
It was lost to one of the 11homes that's been lost to the
blaze and they'll be with us inthe studios next week here on
the George Real Estate GroupHometown Hero Series on WHKP.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Life has a way of throwing us into deep waters
when we least expect it.
Dr Robin Hanley Defoe knowsthis firsthand.
One winter day, her car skiddedon ice and plunged into a
freezing river, trapped insinking darkness.
She had seconds to act.
But instead of panicking, shereminded herself I can do hard
(15:41):
things.
She stayed calm, found a wayout and survived.
At the George Real Estate Group, we know that buying or selling
a home can feel like thatmoment Overwhelming, uncertain,
maybe even a little scary.
But here's the thing you can dohard things and you don't have
to do them alone.
With decades of experience,we're here to guide you every
(16:03):
step of the way, turningchallenges into opportunities.
So if you're thinking aboutmaking a move, let's do it
together.
Call the George Real EstateGroup today, because when it
comes to your future, you'restronger than you think.
The George Real Estate Grouptoday, because, when it comes to
your future, you're strongerthan you think.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat
Rock, north Carolina, nearHendersonville in Henderson
County.
You can find them online atrealestatebygregcom.
The George Real Estate Groupcan be reached at 828-393-0134
or stop by their office at 2720Greenville Highway, flat Rock,
(16:37):
north Carolina.
Tune in live each week onThursdays at 10.05 am on WHKP
107.7 FM and 14.50 am, or streamonline at whkpcom or download
these podcasts wherever you getyour podcasts.
The George real estate groupbrings you the W H K P hometown
(17:01):
hero series every Friday morningat eight 45.
The George Real Estate Group radio broadcast is
celebrating 10 years on WHKP.
The George Real Estate Group iscelebrating 10 years on the
radio, live every Thursdaymorning at 10.05 on WHKP 107.7
FM and AM 1450 and streamingonline at WHkpcom Each Friday
(00:25):
morning at 845,.
The George Real Estate Grouppresents the Hometown Hero Award
to someone in our community whogoes above and beyond to make
our hometown a better place tolive.
Here's this week's HometownHero Show.
It's 845 and it's time now forour George Real Estate Group
(00:46):
Hometown Hero Series and it isalways a pleasure to gather with
Noah George from the GeorgeReal Estate Group to talk a
little real estate and talkabout some of the hometown
heroes and the organizations inour area that do so much in our
(01:09):
area that do so much.
We're seeing so much being doneright now in another crisis
that we are found ourselves in,but anyway, good morning, noah.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Well, good morning and, yes, so grateful to be here
every Friday morning sponsoringthe Hometown Heroes series, and
this is the highlight of myweek.
I know you and I get to gatheraround the mics and have the
conversation, uh, withincredible men and women serving
the community that you know, inour community has gone through
so much and so, uh, you know, Iheard something that was so
(01:35):
interesting yesterday.
Uh, you know, yesterday, Iguess yesterday was a six month
anniversary of helene and I Isaw it, it said so eloquently.
six months ago we were prayingfor relief from the rain and
then oh yeah yesterday we werepraying for rain for relief,
(01:56):
yeah, from the fires, and againit's a very sobering and
challenging uh you knowexperience that our community is
going through, um, just in bothevents and, of course, our
thoughts and prayers.
But again we're here everyfriday morning sponsoring the
hometown hero series and thereal estate market is uh
continuing to grow I'm sure itis.
(02:16):
The market continues to move.
I mean we're january, february.
We're up six percent inhenderson county with the number
of homes sold this jan Februaryversus the previous January
February.
The prices are holding.
Our average single-family homeprice is around $550,000.
Still low inventory levelshovering around 400 active
single-family homes, and thatfluctuates, but I mean every
(02:39):
single day.
We're helping people buy, know,buy, sell, invest in real
estate.
We have people that we'rehelping with their real estate
portfolios, with, uh, you know,with their rental properties or
commercial properties.
We have clients, uh, wanting todiscuss giving their real
estate to non-profits and andand helping and giving back.
I mean there's so many scenariosthat we are.
(03:00):
We've had the privilege to helppeople walk through that's's at
the George Real Estate Group.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
And Noah, join me in welcoming Micah Crispin from man
of Food Bank to the mics.
How you doing, Micah.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Hey y'all, thanks for having me and appreciate you
bearing with me as I'm.
You know, I'm pretty sure Idodged like three fires on the
way here you know, oh gosh, ohman All forms of traffic and
things.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Uh, yeah, hearts go out to folks out there it's
crazy right now.
It really really is and uh, youcan see the smoke and haze.
We have a an air quality alertfor henderson county.
But we appreciate you bravingall the elements to come visit
with us.
We want to talk about man offood bank and uh, and we want to
(03:45):
really officially welcome youto henderson county.
Uh, that's the exciting part ofthe whole thing.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Welcome here to henderson county well, hey, on
behalf of you know, myself andall of our staff, uh, thank you
for welcoming us.
Um, we were, you know, what wassupposed to be a two-year
transition.
We were exploring this facilityhere in mills river um, north
carolina.
The warehouse it's a formerfedex facility yeah two days
(04:13):
before the storm hit um, ourboard approved us to pursue it
okay, we were in the duediligence phase um, and so we
knew that our former facilityoff of Swan Noah River Road in
Asheville was.
You know, back in 2018, ourboard had said hey you know
we're on a flood plain we needto think about we've reached
(04:35):
capacity issues.
We need to start looking for anew facility.
But then COVID hit.
Cost of everything went upRight right.
Looked at exploring and buildinga place that was not attainable
, so then we were looking atthis place, mills river, and
then, two days later, uh, rightbefore helene, you know um, we
lost everything, and so that wasit.
You lost everything yes, ourentire food reserves.
(04:58):
Our two warehouses umeverything except for our fleet
of trucks.
We had moved them to higherground right and we had prepared
our space, moved all the foodup off the ground, um, in
anticipation that there might bea little bit of water that gets
in and you know, covers thefloor type of thing, and didn't
expect to have total loss, yeahtotal loss 20 foot.
(05:20):
You know flood surge of wateracross that whole area.
And so next, uh, two weeks wewere doing, you know,
distributions at the WesternNorth Carolina farmers market
and then the sellers of thiswarehouse at Mills River, they
gave us an emergency lease forthe space, so we got the keys.
Two weeks post, the stormStarted receiving all of the
(05:42):
donations there from across thecountry, from our sister food
banks and you know Charlotte,and then we closed on the
property in November.
So we're officially neighbors.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Oh, that's great.
It's a lot to consider andprocess everything that happened
.
Let's back up, though, forthose.
You would think everybody knowsabout Manifood Bank but let's
not make that assumption.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
You guys serve.
Was it 16 counties?
Yes, sir, yeah, 16 countieshere in western north carolina,
um, and so, yeah, we're allacross this region.
We drive all the way up to theedge of tennessee and georgia,
um, some of our most ruralcommunities and, as a food bank,
we, uh, are part of the feedingthe carolina's national network
.
So, across the country there areover 200, plus food banks, and
(06:33):
so we're a non-profit.
That's part of feeding americaand our whole mission.
We started over 40 um almost 42years ago now, in 1983, and
yeah, it was just a littleoperation in the basement of a
church at that time doing somefood distribution, but then
within our first two years wequickly outgrew that space and,
(06:58):
honestly, the need for food inthe region has just continuously
grown.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Well, let's talk about food insecurity.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
I mean, that's a real thing yeah, yeah, even before
helene struck, we had um monthlyaverage across our 16 county
service region.
We were serving about 158 000people on average across this
region annually um.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
That was monthly 158,000 people.
That's our average.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
That's significant.
These are individuals, yes, sir.
So what we do is as a food bank, we have the capacity again,
when we have the warehouse andall these things, we bring the
food in, we have storage spaceand then we distribute it to.
We have a network of about 225partner agencies.
So those are food pantries likeyour, you know place that your
(07:52):
church is, homeless shelters Imean, they could be a lot of
different.
You know folks, you know a lotof different variables or what
it looks like, but these arejust our, your neighbors,
feeding neighbors kind of things, and so they get those that
food brought to them fromManifood Bank and then it kind
of gets distributed more locallyin people's community centers
(08:13):
etc.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
And you guys deal a lot.
You mentioned it a minute agoabout trucks coming in.
You deal with big corporationsthat donate food.
Some of those Tell us.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Yeah, so we have some incredible partnerships.
We work with grocery storevendors, so you name it Ingalls,
publix, food Lion.
They'll help us by giving us,they'll donate food to us and
help support our fooddistribution.
And then also we work withlocal farmers, and so that's
(08:51):
been.
A big thing too is that we'lluse some of our food sourcing
money and we'll buy it directlyfrom farmers so we can have
fresh produce, meat, cheese,eggs to be able to give out to
the community.
And, as we know, like grocerystore prices and economic
opportunities, folks arestruggling, and so we thought,
(09:12):
after COVID, the numbers wouldgo down.
Never did, never did.
They just have continuouslygone up, and so I think
pre-COVID we were, on average,serving around 70,000 folks a
month throughout our networkyeah, that doubled um yeah for
those four years of covid it gotup to about 135,000 and, like I
(09:33):
said just last year, ouraverage um was 158,000.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
So it's hard to comprehend yeah so and again on.
So we have this ongoing needwith with food insecurity here
in western North Carolina,compounded with everything that
everybody went through.
And then you guys yourselves-oh my gosh, I mean it's a lot.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Yeah, it's really a miracle.
I'm blown away by our staffevery day.
I mean, we just knew we had tojump back into action.
We didn't skip a beat.
Really, I mean two days of justkind of doing a you know a
staff check.
You know, that was just likeour first with the blackout and
communications just like, hey,how's everyone doing?
Can you find out who's on yourteam alive and well and right?
(10:20):
We did have a couple staff whodid lose everything lost their
entire homes as well over inblack mountain.
But then you know, we juststarted immediately like all
right, we have our trucks and wedon't have a place to receive
and distribute food.
Where can we do that?
And when western north carolinafarmers market, some folks
called us and said, hey, weheard you lost everything.
If you can get the food andresources, you can bring it here
(10:42):
to the farmer's market.
So that's what we did.
We just started getting thosecalls and just said, hey, bring
it all.
Bring it all to the farmer'smarket.
So that's what we did.
We just started getting thosecalls and just said, hey, bring
it all.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Bring it all to the farmer's market wow, you're
bringing back the emotions ofthat time and oh my gosh, and
how, uh, and how this communityjust rallied and, yes, there was
so much help offered and andreceived by you people and many
others.
You're bringing all that backto me now.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
We served over 8,000 families in those first two
weeks post the storm and I mean,people would come, you know,
and this was just like a kind ofdrive-through experience Folks
coming just to pick up water,groceries and people.
They had lost everything.
They had everything packed intheir car, their families, their
kids, kids, and we had peoplefrom all over the country just
(11:28):
bringing supplies.
So sometimes someone pulls upwith a truck and a trailer full
of water and they're like wejust drove down from north
dakota and you know spent thelast you know day and a half
just driving straight here, andso, yeah, it's amazing to see
how our mountain people arepulled together.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Yeah, well, gosh, I could talk all day about this
and uh, uh, but I guess we needto talk now about how, uh we go
forward and and the growth thatyou're in.
I I noticed one quote there wasa real long story in the
ashville watchdog by john boylerecently, who really went into
detail about manna and how uh,and.
(12:06):
And one of the quotes I thinkcame from someone in your
organization that now youdescribe it kind of like trying
to build an airplane whileyou're flying it as you, as you
are getting your new digs inorder out there.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Yes, absolutely.
Yeah, it's a every day is a new, a new uh trial to uh find
solutions for you know um.
But we're we're pullingtogether right now.
Yeah, we're upfitting.
Like I said, we're expeditingour upfitting of our current
facility.
So one of our big projects isbuilding a new fridge, freezer,
cooler space, something likegrocery store size styles that
(12:43):
you know folks don't want justcanned goods and we want to make
sure that we can provide freshfood like fridge tractor trailer
wow trucks parked outside.
That and that just keep foodrefrigerated, and so we have 15
of those what an operation.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I mean what an operation, you guys.
The new space is going to be 84is 84 000 square feet.
Yes, sir, some of the notes Ihave here is, I mean the, the,
the, the building plus theoutfits, over 12 million million
.
Is that some of the notes Ihave here, which includes a new
refrigeration and freezer space?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
I mean just an incredible undertaking, yeah,
and we're so thankful we hadsuch a loving outpouring of
support that we, you know, Imean, even though our losses
were at $28 million, manna, justyou know we shared with folks
that we've raised 37 milliondollars.
That's from across the countryfrom people locally here in the
(13:39):
region.
Um, and, yeah, the westernnorth carolina community
foundation.
They actually helped us umclose the funding gap on this
new facility.
Um between them and the northcar Community Foundation.
They gave us $7 millionIncredible.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Yeah, and going forward to volunteer.
What we're talking about hereis done by a lot of volunteers.
Oh my gosh.
Yes, and going forward in thelast minute, we have here going
forward.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Folks can still volunteer if they'd like, and
how do they get a hold of youguys and communicate?
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, folks can go to mannafoodbankorg and you can
see right there.
If you're a person who needsfood or resources, you can click
on find food near you.
But also if you want tovolunteer and come help us pack
food and help us be a part ofthis core mission, just yeah,
visit mannafoodbankorg.
We'd love to have you.
We've had a huge outpouring ofsupport over 2,000 new
(14:35):
volunteers since the storm.
Folks have just really wantedto jump into action to serve.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Micah, thank you so much for braving the elements
and being with us this morning.
Noah, we always thank you somuch.
You've got a certificate therefor Micah to take back to the
Manna Food Bank crews.
And next week we have Rosie andMatt Rogers from Three Chop
(15:01):
Sandwich Shop who lost theirhome in Polk County.
They call it the Cabin of Hope.
It was lost to one of the 11homes that's been lost to the
blaze and they'll be with us inthe studios next week here on
the George Real Estate GroupHometown Hero Series on WHKP.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Life has a way of throwing us into deep waters
when we least expect it.
Dr Robin Hanley Defoe knowsthis firsthand.
One winter day, her car skiddedon ice and plunged into a
freezing river, trapped insinking darkness.
She had seconds to act.
But instead of panicking, shereminded herself I can do hard
(15:41):
things.
She stayed calm, found a wayout and survived.
At the George Real Estate Group, we know that buying or selling
a home can feel like thatmoment Overwhelming, uncertain,
maybe even a little scary.
But here's the thing you can dohard things and you don't have
to do them alone.
With decades of experience,we're here to guide you every
(16:03):
step of the way, turningchallenges into opportunities.
So if you're thinking aboutmaking a move, let's do it
together.
Call the George Real EstateGroup today, because when it
comes to your future, you'restronger than you think.
The George Real Estate Grouptoday, because, when it comes to
your future, you're strongerthan you think.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat
Rock, north Carolina, nearHendersonville in Henderson
County.
You can find them online atrealestatebygregcom.
The George Real Estate Groupcan be reached at 828-393-0134
or stop by their office at 2720Greenville Highway, flat Rock,
(16:37):
north Carolina.
Tune in live each week onThursdays at 10.05 am on WHKP
107.7 FM and 14.50 am, or streamonline at whkpcom or download
these podcasts wherever you getyour podcasts.
The George real estate groupbrings you the W H K P hometown
(17:01):
hero series every Friday morningat eight 45.
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