2022 Annual Report

2022 ANNUAL REPORT

Surpassed pandemic levels of people served

Met demand that increased by

Distributed over pounds of food

Biggest single food sharing event attendance in our history

Improved the nutritional value of food distributions

Expanded school and farm programs

Initiated key community collaborations

To share the abundance of resources within our communities with dignity and joy.

We envision communities where the basic life needs of all people are met.

Create the first food secure county in the nation.

MORE THAN WORDS: DIGNITY & JOY PASSION & GROWTH

Imagine that you have a backyard garden. When the time comes to harvest, you realize that you have grown more food than your family can eat or store. What would you do? To avoid waste, you would likely share it with your neighbors. And you would find some joy in doing so.

There is no stigma associated with receiving a gift of excess food from a neighbor’s garden. We believe there should not be a negative connotation with receiving food assistance for the same reason. We are simply sharing food with our neighbors - with dignity, joy, and without any judgment. When the stigma of receiving assistance is removed, participation increases.

Communities are stronger when they work together. Needless hardship is caused by shame about receiving help. When we work together, we become a more resilient community.

Ben Burke, Executive Director

Board of Directors

Dr. Connie Harris,

Board Chair

Rev. Dave Stabenfeldt, Vice Chair

Amy Brown, Treasurer

Grace Lahr, Secretary

Jen Griffin

Miguel Maldonado

In 2017, our mobile food assistance model was just an idea. Since then, we’ve grown to be the largest food assistance provider in the county and one of the largest rural food assistance organizations in the United States. Our strategy to innovate and fill gaps in the food assistance system has proven to be an effective measure against food insecurity.

I am humbled to work alongside so many passionate, committed volunteers who act tirelessly in filling the gaps in basic needs in our community. With significant increases in the cost of almost everything, we are seeing a larger gap in the needs of many of our neighbors in the Verde Valley, specifically with seniors and children.

This continues to be a call to action for us! Our mission of sharing with dignity and joy resonates through our volunteers, and everyone who supports our efforts to make a difference.

Dr. Connie Harris, Board Chair

We’ve grown to be the largest food assistance provider in the county and one of the largest rural food assistance organizations in the United States.

COMMUNITY FOOD SHARING PROGRAM

Through various forms of mobile food distribution, Manzanita Outreach is the fastest-growing food assistance provider in the State of Arizona. In 2022, we distributed over 1.7 million pounds of food at 520 food sharing events and over 3,000 home deliveries.

This represents a 112% increase over the year. Why? Rising cost of living is stretching household budgets to the brink. Many were already stretched thin by our region’s housing crisis. Now, according to the most recent Consumer Price Index report, nearly every food item is more expensive than it was a year ago.

In addition to massive growth in food distributions, we significantly increased the nutritional value of our food this year, refusing shipments of sweets, soda, and packaged snack food. We’ve partnered with local farmers to fill our boxes with fresh produce and proteins. We even provide special packages for children full of nutritious, kid-friendly items.

Our model is designed to eliminate barriers that prevent people from accessing food assistance. Saturday distributions accommodate working people and our drive-thru model is quick and efficient, serving up to 2,500 people in three hours. We make deliveries to homebound individuals and partner with teachers to directly reach children at school. To serve those with a lack of transportation, we provide food to smaller food pantries that accommodate walk-in clients.

Demand for our food assistance services

112% increased by in 2022.

Cummulative Pounds of Food Distributed 7M pounds of food distributed

MAKING ENDS MEET: JESSICA’S STORY

Jessica, a Sedona resident, is a single mother of a 13-year-old autistic son. After her divorce, she quickly got back on her feet. She found full-time employment and a new home. But this year inflation pushed her budget past the breaking point.

“I’ve been able to find a lot of support for the education and care of my son, but it’s still really hard to make all of the bill payments with everything costing so much, especially food,” says Jessica.

Jessica’s son’s teacher told her about Manzanita’s new drive-through food sharing events at Sedona Red Rock High School.

She struggled with the idea of asking for help with food, but she had little choice. She was surprised to find that it was actually an uplifting event.

“The first time I came to get food from Manzanita was at the high school. I cried all the way home because of how beautiful the experience was.” Jessica recalls.

The food helped Jessica pay rent and live with less fear. And, thanks to Manzanita’s focus on fresh food, she didn’t have to sacrifice the quality of her diet.

“We try to eat healthy. Last month we received apples, oranges, and grapes. My son loves fruit, so we really liked this.”

Jessica is one of many newcomers to our drive through food sharing events, and one of the families whose lives have been touched by the caring of our volunteers and donors.

We served 13,000 people in

I love how every time I go, everyone is so cheerful, happy and in great spirits. Y’all are amazing and have big hearts! Thank you!

S.M., Camp Verde -

2022.

Since 2021, Manzanita Outreach has served more than 25% of the residents of the Verde Valley.

SPOTLIGHT: SENIOR FOOD PROGRAM

Manzanita operates a special program for seniors. In addition to our fresh food boxes, Verde Valley seniors receive a box of pantry staples. Because many are homebound, Manzanita volunteers deliver food throughout the Verde Valley. Last year, we made over 3,000 deliveries of both fresh food and healthy non-perishable foods.

FAMILY HERO: MARY ANN’S STORY

When her four great-grandchildren were taken into Child Protective Services, 79-year-old Mary Ann stepped up despite her age and limited budget. She took custody of four young children aged one to seven.

Mary Ann had planned for her own expenses in retirement, but she never dreamed of supporting a family in her golden years. “This has definitely been a struggle,” Mary Ann admits. “This is not what I imagined my life would be like at this age.”

As part of Manzanita’s Senior Food Program, Mary Ann receives twice-monthly home deliveries of both fresh and non-perishable foods. We also support the children with MO Packs for Kids and books.

“The kids are growing, and the food we receive is very helpful,” she continues.

Mary Ann’s willingness to give up so much for her greatgrandchildren touched all of us. In October, we nominated the family for the Rotary Club of Sedona Red Rocks Holiday Wish List project. Rotary shared our affection for this special bunch and granted all their gift wishes.

“The gifts made a big difference,” remembers Mary Ann. “We had a joyful holiday. Thank you.”

You are all so kind. I cannot thank you enough for going above and beyond my expectations of what a “food pantry” is. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve begun to lose my memory. You are so patient with me every time that I call. Thank you.

S. C., Cornville -

Our scale and infrastructure allow us to take in a greater variety of food, which we are then able to share with smaller local food pantries.

LOCAL FARMERS + FOOD ASSISTANCE = WIN-WIN

All food is not created equal. Every year, more studies are released confirming what we see every day: nutrition plays an important role in maintaining mental health, overcoming addiction, and improving school performance.

Yet, typical free food programs are encouraged to distribute things like soda, bread and chips. Food is often heavy in cheap, starchy items with low nutrient density and low in protein and fresh produce.

Beginning last year, we refused to distribute foods that are unhelpful toward the aim of increasing our community’s health. Instead, we’ve partnered with local farms to provide fresh, locallygrown produce, meats, and eggs to our clients.

Ben Burke accepting microgreens

from farmer

Thanks to grant funding, we can pay farmers market prices for their produce. They get a guaranteed buyer for their crops and our community gets nutrient-dense food. It’s a win-win if ever there was one.

In 2022, the pilot program partnered with 14 farms. Due to our success, our funding has quadrupled, and we are contracting with several additional farms in 2023.

Supplying Manzanita Outreach touches my heart and offers me an opportunity to give back to the community something of incredible value – a healthy product that contributes to people’s well-being. I am honored to be a supplier.

- Eric Kostecki, CEO, Sweet Greens Arizona

Don Kova of Camptown Greens.

Arizona Grass Fed Beef delivering nutrition to the Verde Valley this summer.

Beginning last year, we refused to distribute foods that are unhelpful toward the aim of increasing our community’s health.

TEACHERS AS MISSION PARTNERS

Our investigations into local childhood hunger showed us that many children are falling through the cracks of the existing food assistance system, and that teachers are often filling the gap. Teachers were spending an average of $800 of their personal income on food and supplies for their students.

In 2021, we launched pilot programs to test methods of serving both teachers and students in our community. They were a huge success, and in 2022, we expanded them to serve over 8,000 children.

The MO Packs for Teachers program provides boxes of hearty snacks for teachers to keep in their classrooms. Teachers know which students need nutritional support and help get the food where it needs to go.

The School Supplies for Teachers program provides cabinets full of school supplies and personal care items to be used by teachers as needed. Purchased at pennies on the dollar versus retail, we can meet teachers’ needs for extra supplies at a low cost.

These programs now serve over 500 teachers and are considered a perk of teaching in the Verde Valley.

You have found a way to support the frontlines during difficult times.

Rebecca L. Baker, Teacher at Daniel Bright School -

We appreciate the community banding together to help us educate our students, embodying ‘it takes a village.'

Allie Wheeler, Principal of Beaver Creek School -

I want to go to college. A lot of my friends don’t, but I do. The food in the boxes that you gave to my school helped me focus on school work and not on food.

C.L.,Studentfrom Cottonwood -

SECURING BRIGHT FUTURES: KIMBERLY’S STORY

Kimberly, a lifelong resident of the Verde Valley, graduated with a master’s degree in elementary education last year.

One of Kimberly’s biggest concerns about teaching was being able to afford the supplies she knew she would want to purchase.

“I care a lot about my students, and I’m not comfortable teaching with ‘the bare minimum’ supplies. I have been in those classrooms, and I’ve seen how difficult it is when teachers don’t have what they need,” she explained.

Then a teacher friend told Kimberly about Manzanita’s teacher support programs. “I honestly did not believe her at first. It was a mindset shift for me and was the reason I began to consider coming back to the Verde Valley to teach.”

Kimberly is now stewarding the education of a classroom of second graders in Cottonwood. Thank you, Kimberly!

Manzanita Outreach provides books for children at our drive-through food sharing events. Low income households often have few books, and our food shares provide an easy opportunity to reach hundreds of children. 2022 was our biggest year by far with over 10,000 books provided to children in our community!

COLLABORATION

Manzanita Outreach is built on collaborations with others aligned in a shared vision for our community. Since 2017, we have collaborated or partnered with over 100 organizations and hosted over 2,000 unique volunteers.

MOHELP.ORG

A few years ago, surveys revealed that people were confused about food assistance options in the Verde Valley. Our community’s resources are fragmented into many small food pantries with different, limited operating hours. This was keeping many from getting the help they needed for their families.

In 2019, we launched a simple, userfriendly website, MOhelp.org, that includes up-to-date information for all food assistance in the county. Users simply click on the town or region, and get information about upcoming distributions nearby.

In 2022, MOhelp.org surpassed 100,000 page views. The website is frequented by social workers, basic needs providers, and individuals.

In partnership with Yavapai County Community Health Services and the Yavapai Library Network, we are now in the process of expanding this valuable community asset to include all basic needs resources. Be on the lookout for this new program announcement in 2023!

UKRAINE RELIEF: KIDS AGAINST HUNGER

On June 25, 2022, thanks to a concerned donor, Manzanita Outreach hosted a meal-packing event with over 350 volunteers from our community. In just a few hours, we packed nearly 90,000 meals, which were sent to aid refugees on the border of Poland and Ukraine.

THE GREEN BAG PROJECT

The Verde Valley Neighborhood Food Project is an innovative way to fight hunger in our community. Every two months Neighborhood Coordinators pick up bags of healthy, nonperishable food that neighbors have left outside their front doors. They leave empty green bags for the next collection and take all the food to local food pantries.

In 2022, nearly 70 Neighborhood Coordinators picked up food from over 900 food donors in the community. As a result, over 74,000 pounds of food were provided to nine food pantries in the Verde Valley.

Without the donations that we receive from the Green Bag Project, we could not afford to have any canned goods available for our clients. In 2022, we distributed food over 3,000 times in the Jerome community. Support from this project is extremely valuable to us.

THE TEWA HOLIDAY PROJECT

is located f the Hopi thern

16th year, Project is 000 0 handoats, and ught to nzanita trucks.

At this year’s distribution, one of the Tewa Elders got out of her car, came up to me, gave me a hug, and whispered in my ear how much she appreciated what we were doing. It was so intimate and so personal, it shook me to my core and reinforced how important The Tewa Holiday Project is to the Tewa Community.

- Randy Crewse, TEWA Holiday Project Coordinator

- Randy Boardman, Food Pantry at Haven United Methodist Church, Jerome

COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS THE ENGINE OF OUR SUCCESS

Our work is truly a community effort. In 2022, 866 community members collectively donated 13,154 hours of time to support Manzanita’s efforts. This allows us to operate with a small paid staff.

Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, volunteers gather to do everything from sorting produce for family food boxes to making home deliveries to distributing food at one of our mobile food-sharing events.

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED MANZANITA OUTREACH IN 2022

Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona

Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County

Arizona Food Bank Network

Arizona Public Service

Burton Family Foundation

Bella Initiative of Grace Fund

Christ Lutheran Church - Sedona

Church of the Red Rocks

City of Cottonwood

City of Sedona

Dutch Brothers Coffee

Foothills Bank

Haven United Methodist Church

Hummingbird House

Kroger

League of Women Voters Northern Arizona

Millar Construction

Mountain View Preparatory School

National Christian Foundation

New Hope Christian Fellowship

Noble Heritage Builders

Oak Creek Mortgage

Offield Foundation

OneAZ Credit Union

Quintus, Inc.

Rotary Club of Sedona Red Rocks

Rotary Club of Sedona Village

Rotary Club of the Verde Valley

Sedona Verde Valley Association of Realtors

St. Andrews Episcopal Church

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance

Stewart Title Foundation

Unify Sedona

United Way of Yavapai County

Unity of Verde Valley

Verde Valley Christian Church

And Two Anonymous Family Foundations

Volunteers provide translation services for Spanish-speaking food share participants.

50 YEARS OF BUILDING COMMUNITY: MEET KAY & RALPH

Kay and Ralph Nye moved to Rimrock in the 1970s armed with a book on “How to Build a House.” Ralph, a telescope engineer who worked at Lowell Observatory, built what would be the family’s new home almost entirely by himself.

Kay thought that it would be nice for people in this small community to have a casual place to go to have coffee and food. Ralph built what would become Crickets Dessert and Sandwich Shop. Kay baked and cooked while their young children ran the front of the house. For over 40 years, Crickets was one of the most beloved restaurants in the area.

Both now retired, Kay and Ralph still have the burning desire to support their community. “I want to help and I see people in need every day, but I don’t always know how to approach them or help in any meaningful way,” says Kay.

Manzantia gave Ralph and Kay a way to stay involved. As volunteers, they learned that Manzanita uses funds very efficiently and can serve at scale as a result. This inspired the couple to financially invest in Manzanita’s mission as well. Kay says they feel like they are really making an impact by working with Manzanita.

“I’m impressed with what Manzanita has accomplished in just a few years,” says Kay.

“Manzanita is really in touch with what people in our community need the most.”

FINANCES & SUPPORT

Inflation hasn’t only affected our clients, driving up demand for services by 112%, but it has affected our costs as well. Donors and foundations have helped us step up to the challenge. Working together as a community, we were able to grow and will never turn anyone away from assistance.

2022 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIALS

SOURCES OF INCOME IN-KIND DONATIONS

Donations go far at Manzanita thanks to incredible in-kind and volunteer support.

CONSOLIDATED EXPENSES

INVESTING IN SMART GROWTH: MEET CAROLYN

Dr. Carolyn Martin and her husband moved to the Verde Valley from Albuquerque in 2005 because, after a visit, they felt this would be a great place to raise a family. In 2014, Carolyn opened the Eye Boutique of Sedona, and she’s been running the successful business ever since.

In 2019, just before the pandemic, one of her clients told her about the work that Manzanita was doing in the community. She heard stories of women living in their cars coming to Manzanita food shares. This put Manzanita on her radar.

As the pandemic hit in 2020, her client kept her updated on how Manzanita was scaling up to respond to the increased needs in the community. That year, she made her first gift to Manzanita to support these efforts.

Carolyn reflected, “Unlike in urban environments, those who are struggling in the Verde Valley are invisible. It takes boots-on-the-ground organizations like Manzanita Outreach to fill the gaps.”

Carolyn is now the President of the Rotary Club of Sedona Village, and she brought Manzanita’s work to the attention of the Club. Members of the club have now participated in several volunteering events.

HER MESSAGE TO PROSPECTIVE DONORS:

The way we came to know about Manzanita Outreach is word of mouth. Please share the word of what Manzanita is doing. Service to humanity is the rent you pay on this earth. And Manzanita Outreach is an organization that can assist you in the service.

GET INVOLVED

VOLUNTEER | Join in our regular food assistance volunteering activities, share your professional expertise, or volunteer from home as a virtual advocate. We welcome team-building volunteer groups as well.

GIVE | Give online at manzanitaoutreach.org or mail checks to the address below. Consider joining our Circle of Sharing by signing up for monthly giving online.

DESIGNATE YOUR TAX DOLLARS | Ensure that your state tax dollars help the local community by designating Manzanita Outreach as a recipient of up to $400 per taxpayer. Simply donate then submit the receipt with your Arizona tax returns. You will receive a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your taxes. Manzanita is a Qualified Charitable Organization for this program (QCO Code 20701).

JOIN THE MANZANITA LEGACY CIRCLE| Help us carry on our critical work in the community by remembering Manzanita in your estate plans. Please inform us of your intentions so that we can thank you and keep you updated on Legacy Circle events and communications. When designating Manzanita, please include our Tax ID number 27-4446453.

STRUCTURED GIVING | There are many ways to give that are tax-advantaged or that provide income during your lifetime. Please visit manzanita.org/givesmart or give us a call to learn more.

ENDOWMENT | If you would like your contribution to be invested for long-term growth, simply designate your gift for our endowment.

STAY IN TOUCH | Keep up to date on our activities by signing up for our newsletter manzanitaoutreach.org and following us on Facebook.

Manzanita Outreach is not like other organizations We do things that meet the urgent needs of the community, but we do so without waste. Everything is used up. When we have leftover food, there is a system in place to share this with small food pantries. When we receive food not fit for distribution, we share it with local farms. I really appreciate the efficiency of our work.

VolunteerandDonor,GerriCrelot -

928-649-5772

Everything we do is a result of community generosity. Together we are accomplishing great things.