Preview the live auction and more information about the Gala here: The Manna Gala Look Book

Manna is excited to introduce our first annual gala event. Featuring entertainment by the Owen James Trio, this fun evening will begin with cocktail hour overlooking Lake Michigan followed by a live auction and a delicious dinner from the culinary team at Bay Harbor Yacht Club. This is an opportunity to become well acquainted with the Manna Board of Directors and staff, as well as raise funds to support the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program, which keeps food insecure children in pre-k and elementary schools fed and fueled for success.

On average, one in five children in Michigan are at risk of hunger. In some of our own communities, that number is much higher. At Charlevoix Elementary School, one in four kids are in need of the backpack program. For the East Jordan Elementary School, 53% of their students receive these weekend meals. In more rural school districts, all of the students are given backpacks to ensure no child goes hungry over the weekend.

Manna’s Food 4 Kids Backpack Program supplies backpacks of food to 30 organizations across our Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet Counties, including elementary schools, pre-k and head start programs, and public libraries. Backpacks include meals and snacks for over the weekend when kids aren’t getting meals at school. Manna strives to provide kid-friendly, nutritious food that is easy for pre-school and elementary age children to prepare on their own. This ready-to-eat food tends to come at a premium, but Manna is doing everything they can to keep the costs of this program as low as possible without compromising on nutrition. Schools are asking for more backpacks than ever before. At our current delivery rate, Manna will give out over 60,000 backpacks this year, costing over $250,000 in food for this program to keep up with the need.

Become an event sponsor or buy your tickets now using the button above. The benefits entitled to each sponsor are listed below. We appreciate all of our community supporters and hope that you find a sponsorship level that fits your organization. If you have any questions, please reach out to Cherell at cgranger@mannafoodproject.org or 231-347-8852.

Thank you to our Banner Sponsors!

View all of our wonderful event sponsors on our website.

The Manna Gala 2024

Benefiting the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program