Project MANA - A Hunger Relief Agency

By George LeBard
Special to the Bonanza,
The faith-based community is often the first place those in need will turn during hard times. It plays a critical role in the ongoing healing process of making a community whole.

But there has always been a divide between the churches and the world of social services. Often we help the same people without knowing it. Too often we have no idea what the other is doing to help those in need and we end up duplicating services.

Recently a unique collaboration was created when St. Francis of Assisi joined forces with the Service Integration Team, (Project MANA, Children's Cabinet, Tahoe Women's Services, North Tahoe Family Resource Center and Sierra Recovery Center).

The common goal that brought us together was “to meet the increased needs of families and individuals affected by the current economic crisis.”

Our strategy is to streamline the process for clients to receive the services they need. So, now when clients go to St. Francis for financial assistance, they are referred to the Service Integration Team to meet with a family advocate who works with them to determine immediate and long-term needs. In return, St. Francis provides much needed financial resources to be used for emergencies.

Our objective is to reduce the incidents of repeat requests for emergency services by addressing the individual or family as a “whole” and not just their immediate needs.

The core concept of this collaboration is to have a comprehensive program in place that provides emergency services for immediate needs and identifies sustainable solutions for the long-term.

We care about our clients and we recognize they have the strength and assets to be self-sufficient. Offering one-time assistance does not always develop those resources and build the capacity they need to thrive as individuals and families.

We believe that by combining our resources and working together, we can increase our success stories and have a better impact on the community. We, the Service Integration Team, want to congratulate and applaud Father Bill and the Pastoral Council of St. Francis for their foresight and compassion in serving those in need. By joining forces and communicating we can make a difference.

For more information about this collaboration and how you can contribute please contact Grace Amend at (775) 298-0008. For St. Francis please contact the main office at (775) 831-0490.

George LeBard is executive director of Project MANA.