By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
With its 300-square-foot warehouse nearly filled to the rafters, Canadian County’s largest emergency food pantry is looking for help to construct a new storage facility.
The Manna Pantry has seen a more-than 2-1/2 times increase in need since moving 18 months ago to the Together We Center, 620 N Cemetery.
Manna Pantry, which now serves clients across Canadian County, has set its inaugural “Main Event” dinner and auction for Thursday, Sept. 7. The fund-raising benefit starts at 6 p.m. inside the Palace Event Center, 2310 N Banner Road in El Reno.
“As we continue to grow, we need more space to store food,” Manna Pantry Director Sherri Rogers said. “Our warehouse is full.
“We need a storage facility that’s climate controlled.”
Funds collected at the Sept. 7th Main Event will be used to purchase a storage building that will be placed on a concrete pad behind the center.
The structure will be used for storage by Manna Pantry and the other two Together We ministries, the Faith Clinic and Woven thrift clothing boutique.
During the Main Event, auctioneer Rick Scrivner will seek bidders for these featured live auction items:
A framed autographed photo of OU Sooners’ Heisman Award winner Sam Bradford, trips to the Caribbean and Tuscany, a kayak, an engraved painted rock, and OKC Thunder basketball tickets with dinner and hotel stay.
Other auction highlights will include a hog, a Taurus 9mm handgun, a custom-made knife, dog grooming, dog sitting, a doghouse, and free dog adoption.
A silent auction will have an archery bow, bicycle, power washing, office/gaming chair, wooden and metal American flag, Oklahoma City Museum of Art passes, collector doll, haircuts, restaurant gift certificates, and lots of gift baskets.
Dinner for the Sept. 7th Main Event will be provided by Bob Bean Catering. Attendees will enjoy beef tips with noodles, chicken with mushroom sauce, salad, green bean, mashed potatoes, and desserts.
Attire will be “Canadian County casual,” also known as business casual dress.
The Manna Pantry board has selected the Main Event as the name of its fall benefit, the organization’s largest fundraiser. Some $5,000 was raised during a 5K run this April in Mustang.
500-PLUS FAMILIES MONTHLY
Manna Pantry started in 1975 as a small food cupboard inside Yukon’s Resurrection Lutheran Church.
For several decades, it was a ministry of the First Christian Church near downtown Yukon.
Since January 2022, Manna Pantry has occupied a 2,000 square foot space in Trinity Baptist Church Yukon’s Together We Center.
“In May, June and July, we have served 1,532 households totaling 5,007 individuals,” Rogers said. “Since January, we’ve served 3,741 households and 12,032 individuals.”
As a non-profit now serving all nine municipalities in Canadian County, Manna Pantry relies more than ever on its cadre of dedicated volunteers and support from churches, businesses and individuals.
Some 150 volunteers serve the pantry, typically logging between 700 to 800 hours each month.
Manna Pantry’s regular hours are 5-8 p.m. Monday, 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, 5-8 p.m. Thursday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. A “porch pantry” is offered Fridays.
Tickets to Manna Pantry’s Main Event fall benefit are $60 each and a table of eight is $500. Several sponsorships are available.
Visit mainevent.mannapantryyukon.com to register online.
For more information about the Manna Pantry or the Sept. 7th dinner and auction, call (405) 265-0193, email srogers@togetherwwecenter.com
