2016 Have a Heart For Manna House Dinner Dance

The Have a Heart for Manna House Dinner Dance will take place at The King and Prince Resort on February 6. The evening kicks off at 6:00 p.m. with a raffle and silent auction preview and cocktail hour. A seated dinner follows at 7:00 p.m. At 8:00 p.m., get ready to hit the dance floor with music by Mason Waters & the Groove Allstars. It’s a popular event for local dance club members to show off their skills, and if you come alone, don’t worry, there’s always a willing dance partner to be found! Tickets are $60 per person and are available through the Lord of Life Church office. Last day for reservations is February 3. Call 912.638.4673 to reserve yours or stop by to purchase. Come enjoy a fun evening that will help ensure that Manna House can continue to feed and care for those in need in our community. 

Support A Mission of Caring 

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.” - Mother Teresa

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Mother Teresa’s words remind us that the simple act of caring is just as important as providing food to those in need. Since 1992, Manna House of Brunswick has been doing its best to alleviate hunger on both of these levels by ensuring that our community members’ needs are not forgotten and overlooked while they serve free meals each day. Under the leadership of Don Herman for approximately 20 years, and now with Ray Colglazier serving as President of the Board, the charity founded on the mission to aid the hungry in Brunswick and the Golden Isles is still going strong.

Teams of 10-15 volunteers from 25 area churches and community organizations prepare and serve lunch almost daily at 1408 G Street. There are no paid employees and more than 350 people lend a hand each month to serve those in need who come through the doors. Since the first meal was served and the economic climate has deteriorated, need has increased dramatically. Between 160-225 people visit Manna House for a meal each day. In 2014 alone, approximately 53,000 meals were served.

This is no small endeavor. Last year, Manna House was open 353 days, and they serve meals most days, 7 days a week. With the cost per place of food averaging $2.29, it takes approximately $500 per day to feed the crowd. Manna House operates entirely on contributions and money raised through fundraisers. Last year, their income was $102,100, and their expenditures exceeded that by approximately $10,000. “That,” says Jane Bozza, committee co-chair of the Have a Heart for Manna House Dinner Dance “is why raising money through the Have a Heart for Manna House Dinner Dance is so critical. Without those funds, Manna House could not meet the existing needs of the community.”

As Bozza mentioned, the Have a Heart for Manna House Dinner Dance that was started in 2006 by Lord of Life Lutheran Church, is in fact the primary source of income for Manna House. Proceeds raised from that event account for as much as 80% of its operating budget. The event has raised more than $50,000 for Manna House over the past 9 years. Last year alone, the Have a Heart for Manna House Dinner Dance committee donated just over $20,000—an amount that far exceeded expectations, more than doubling the amount that had been raised the prior year. Proceeds included grants and corporate donations from Lutheran World Hunger Relief ($5,000), Hello/GoodBuy ($3,000), Ebay ($4,000), Rich Products ($500), and Haven Manufacturing ($500). More than 200 people attended the Dinner Dance held at The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort for the first time, enjoying a fabulous dinner, dancing, and bidding on a wide array of silent auction items. It’s been exciting to watch the event grow from a small dinner dance at the parish hall to a sold-out evening that packs the room and the dance floor at The King and Prince Resort.

But even with the success of this event, due to the current economic climate, it is clear that need for this ministry in the community continues to increase and expenditures will continue to rise. Bozza says, “we want to increase the donations each year, so community support is very important to us.” What can you do? Your business, church, or organization can sponsor a table – each table accommodates 10 people and includes a delicious dinner. Donate an item for the silent auction. Share news about the Dinner Dance and encourage your friends, family, and co-workers to attend. Buy a ticket to come join the fun, and maybe bid on some of the great silent auction items offered, or purchase raffle tickets for your chance to win something special.