In conjunction with its 10th Anniversary, Mercy Manna Food Ministry of Slaton recently received $10,000 in matching funds from an anonymous private out of state donor. “The best thing about this generous donation,” explained the ministry’s co-founder, Deacon Darris Linder, “is that for every dollar that is now donated, Mercy Manna receives another $1, up to $10,000. This has the effect of doubling every dollar that a person gives.”
Deacon Linder went on to say that these matching funds could not have come at a better time because our funds have been at the lowest amount since our existence and also because that the number of Slaton area families served by Mercy Manna has risen over twenty per cent during the course of this year. In dollar terms, this means that Mercy Manna purchases and distributes about $3,000 worth of food each month, or approximately $36,000 per year. And so, as with many other non-profit organizations, previous donations have not kept up the needs of the communities during these difficult times. Our donors thus far have been generous; however, the need is simply greater.
Most of the money donated to Mercy Manna comes from local churches, private individuals, or businesses. One hundred percent of all donations to Mercy Manna go directly for food; thus, there are absolutely never any overhead costs. This extraordinary arrangement is possible because all workers at Mercy Manna are volunteers and because all utility and upkeep expenses are paid for by Mercy Retreat Center and Deacon and Mrs. Linder, founder of Mercy Manna.
Open every Wednesday afternoon from 1-4 PM at 145 W. Lynn Street, Mercy Manna provides food assistance to an average of 1,000 people per month. This means that, by number, approximately twenty percent of all Slaton residents receive food from Mercy Manna at some time during the year. Mercy Manna purchases most of its food from the South Plains Food Bank; by choice, it does not now, and never has, received funding from any governmental agency. We are thankful, too, that Slaton Bakery and United Supermarkets often donate many items.
SPFB require that accurate records are maintained, thus keeping duplication of food distributed (two boxes for a family of one to three persons and four boxes for families have four or more people) to the same address to a minimum.
Mercy Manna Director Emeritus, Deacon Darris Linder, and current Director Dr. Larry Holley along with the needy of our community encourages anyone and everyone to use this opportunity of matching funds to make a generous Christmas donation to Mercy Manna. Contributions can be sent to: Mercy Manna, PO Box 744, Slaton, TX, 79364.
