The Manna Club, widely known for its food drives and efforts to spread awareness of food insecurity to Liberty University students, continues to make an impact every semester. What many do not realize is how this club started small, because it now collaborates on larger projects like the Teal Bag Initiative.
To the surprise of many, the Manna Club did not begin as a club, but rather as one individual with a heart to serve. Lay Keith, a former student, began using his leftover meal swipes to donate food to Agape Lynchburg and the Lynchburg Daily Bread after realizing how many of his swipes were going to waste.
Keith’s passion to feed those in need and his awareness of food insecurity, accompanied by his action, sparked a movement across his hall. What started as one man’s simple idea, soon led to more food donations each week from his hall.
One of these students was senior Jessica Dowd, now the president of the Manna Club.
Dowd has been part of the club from the beginning. Originally starting as a hall volunteer giving leftover swipes, she then became the director of club mission success. In this role, she worked on setting a long-term mission for the club. She also served as vice president before becoming the acting club president.
“I got to see (the Manna Club) start from one guy donating a few swipes a week to an entire hall coming together to do that,” Dowd said. “We had to move away from that model when we became an official club my sophomore year but now have an incredible partner in Sodexo.”
Now as partners, the Manna Club works with Sodexo and several dining locations across campus like Dunkin’, restaurants in the Montview Student Union and the Tinney Café in the Jerry Falwell Library. Each Tuesday and Friday, students work to pack goods that are given to Manna Club partners and distributed across Lynchburg as needed.
General Manager of Sodexo Abraham Zahabi stated that he has had the blessing of meeting many people of different backgrounds throughout this initiative, an opportunity that has given him a new perspective as they continue to serve in the local community.
“Working with the Manna Club for the last three years has brought me a true sense of joy,” Zahabi said. “Their mission is one that I share personally and is a huge focus of Sodexo as an international corporation. Being in the food service industry, there is no better match for our service spirit than through helping to make sure no one goes hungry in today’s world.”
The club not only provides for the physical needs of individuals around Lynchburg, but also the spiritual needs. The group prays over all the food and provides gospel tracts within each food package, ensuring that every person gets to encounter Christ when involved with the club.
Since its beginning, the Manna Club has always had the same mission: feeding the hungry. Through the actions of one young man, many are now serving as the hands and feet of Christ weekly across Liberty.
Park View Community Mission is one of the Manna Club’s community partners. Their mission involving the Teal Bag Initiative works in tandem with groups like the Manna Club to collect non-perishable foods for those in need. Students across Liberty were given the opportunity to grab a bag and fill it with the items listed.
The teal bags went out to meet the food insecurity needs for about 400 families, which is approximately 1,000 individuals in the Lynchburg area depending on the need at the time.
On Friday, April 17, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Reber Thomas Dining Center, the bags were collected for a sandwich making event. Frequent members of the club, as well as first-timers, teachers and even President Dondi Costin gathered to help sort bags and make sandwiches.
The impact of the Manna Club is not limited to the community alone. Students themselves, especially those who have been able to serve on location, get to see where the food goes and witness the people who are being impacted directly. Through the Manna Club, students have the opportunity to grow in awareness and gratitude for the ability to give to those in need locally.
College students who have never faced food insecurity may be less aware of those who may be suffering in their own community. Serving with the Manna Club opens the door for students to be generous with their time and resources and witness the beauty of serving as the hands and feet of Christ.
Information about the Manna Club can be found at their Instagram, @libertymannaclub.
Nikolai is a feature reporter for the Liberty Champion.