On a cold, snowy Friday morning, 60-year-old Tony Dunkley rode his bicycle from Terre Haute’s north side to an alley outside St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in downtown Terre Haute to fill up his bike trailer with food items provided by Manna from Seven.
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Volunteer Rachel Oliver shares some season greetings with a recipient of the Manna from Seven Christmas food distribution Friday behind St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on North Seventh Street.
It was Manna’s annual Christmas food distribution, where recipients could either use an assembly-like drive through operation, or they could walk (or ride their bikes) up to the front of the line at a separate table.
Dunkley filled his bike trailer with ham, cereal, bread, mac and cheese, canned and dry goods, drinks and other items.
On a morning where the wind chill made it feel like 16 degrees, he was bundled in plenty of warm clothing to make the trek downtown. His headgear covered most of his face.
He’s grateful for Manna’s effort, he said, as he prepared for the journey back home. He regularly visits Manna for their weekly food distributions.
Nearby, Susan Seitz — one of the Manna founders — walked around wearing a bright, reflective jacket making sure Friday’s operation went smoothly.
“I think the snow makes it more beautiful,” said Seitz. “It makes it feel like Christmas.”
The event was a non-advertised Christmas food distribution “because we weren’t prepared for 600 or 700 families today,” she said. Thanksgiving is typically Manna’s biggest giveaway each year.
They had enough hams for 600 families, which included Saturday food basket deliveries.
Before 9 a.m., 402 cars were lined up along North Eighth Street, with some lining up as early as 3 a.m. Once distribution was completed Friday, the project had served 476 families, including walk-ups.
About 85 boxes were to be delivered Saturday.
At least 30 volunteers were on hand to distribute food at several stops along the alley, including students from Marshall High School in Illinois.
“We always love having students,” Seitz said. “Once they join us, they are eager to come back.”
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Volunteers Catie Guillemette and Charlee Payne, both students at Marshall High School in Illinois, load cartons of drinks onto the back of a recipient’s truck during the Manna from Seven Christmas food distribution Friday behind St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on North Seventh Street.
Volunteers enthusiastically do their part to make the distribution possible. “It’s a blessing for us to be able to help somebody else,” Seitz said.
She expressed special gratitude to Bob Baesler for providing the hams “and everything he’s done for us this year.”
Among those waiting in line to collect the bountiful goods was Belle Blandt of Terre Haute; she had been in line since 6 a.m.
“I’m single and on Social Security,” she said. “I think it’s wonderful. What I don’t need or want, I put in blessing boxes.”
Once Blandt made it to the first stop in the distribution line, Manna volunteers Rachel Oliver and Crystal Payne provided her with chocolate bars and Italian bread.
Oliver, who wore red and green ribbons in her hair, chatted with Blandt about Oliver’s plans to make a cake to celebrate Jesus’ birthday, something she does each year.
Oliver warmly greeted all families who came through. “God bless you,” she told one family.
She has volunteered with Manna for about 8 months. “It brings me joy to give to people who are in need,” she said.
At the next stop, Marshall High School students Catie Guillemette and Charlee Payne distributed drinks, including chocolate milk and Pepsi. Both are members of the Future Business Leaders of America club.
It’s their third time to volunteer.
“Getting to help people is one of my favorite things,” Guillemette said. “It feels amazing and knowing you can make a change in someone’s day just brightens mine.”
Further down the line, volunteer Tim Pittman worked with Nancy Edgerton to give out breakfast items that included almond milk and cereal. “We’re the breakfast group,” Pittman said.
The Christmas distribution “is a great way of sharing the bounty that we have with other people,” Pittman said. “It’s good fellowship, too. It’s a lot of fun, even though the weather’s not great — it could be a lot worse.”
Among the many grateful recipients was Mary Sullivan, who patiently waited in her car for her turn. “I think It really helps a lot of people,” she said.
Gary Jones also awaited his turn. “It is for my neighbor. She is raising two grand-kids,” he said. “I’m off Fridays so I came down here to get it for her.”
It means a lot to the family, he said.
Inside St. Stephen’s church, volunteers including Kay and Mike Cahil prepared boxes for Saturday’s home delivery. The Cahills are two of the seven people who founded Manna from Seven.
“Anytime you are here, it just makes you appreciate your life and everything you have,” Kay Cahill said.
Manna from Seven is a nonprofit formed in February 2019; all money and food donations given to Manna from Seven are used to provide food to those in need, and no questions are asked.