A Program of the Manna Food Center

Smart Sacks -

a program of the Manna Food Center

What are they? In 2005, Manna founded the Smart Sacks initiative which partners Manna Food, businesses and organizations, and elementary schools. Together we provide the children with backpacks full of kid-friendly food every Friday so they have food on the weekends when there are no school meals to sustain them.

What do they do?The Smart Sacks program currently operates in more than 50 elementary schools, feeding more than 1,600 children each week. Smart Sacks is a perfect example of how a community comes together to solve a problem. Smart Sacks is an important component to breaking the cycle of hunger and poverty and provides children with the opportunity to learn and succeed at school.On Montgomery TP/SS Campus we package food for Smart Sacks EVERY Wed. at 1:30 in P4 ,Blue Box Theater .This food is packaged and brought to Broad Acres Elementary School.

Where are they located?Manna Food Center: 9311 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Contact: Phone: 301-424-1130

What can YOU do or donate?There are many opportunities for you to volunteer your time and talent to help us fight hunger and feed hope in our community. To learn more about group or individual opportunities, please contact us at 301-424-1130. On Montgomery TP/SS Campus we package food for Smart Sacks EVERY Wed. at 1:30 in P4, Blue Box Theater. We look forward to hearing from you. Donations are always welcomed. On the back of this page you will find the Manna Smart Sacks wish list. You can coordinate a collection in your own community and donate these items. For more information, please contact Dr Lucy Vitaliti at or call 240-567-1527 or contact Isa Martinez at or call 240-567-3992.

Manna Food's Smart Sacks Program WISH LIST

Smaller size, kid-friendly food, including:

* Peanut Butter in 18oz jars or smaller

* Small Fruit Cans/Cups

* Individual Applesauce Cups

* Juice Boxes that are 100% juice

* Easy Mac

* Macaroni and Cheese

* Microwavable Bowls of Pasta

* Canned Pasta

* Individual Cereal Boxes

* Oatmeal Packets

* Tuna Fish

* Crackers packaged in a sleeve, like Ritz or Saltines

* Pudding Cups

* Nutritious Cereal Bars

* Individual Raisin Boxes or Other Dried Fruit

* Small packages of peanuts

* Microwavable Containers of Soup

* Granola Bars

* Cereal Bars

* Kid-Friendly Cans of Soup - Chicken Noodle, Tomato, Alphabet, etc.