Community Kitchen

Manna’s Community Kitchen is the foundation of our organization. Through the combined effort of staff and volunteers, we have served quality, balanced meals in a safe and respectful environment since 1985.

Our meals are prepared by volunteers and kitchen staff. When preparing our meals for the day we aim to provide options, varieties, and account for dietary restrictions. We are able to source the ingredients needed to provide meals through working with Care and Share, Colorado's Food Bank, and local grocers and farmers such as City Market, Natural Grocers, Sunnyside Market and James Ranch. In addition, we also utilize produce from Manna's garden, local farmers market, and local food donations as well.

Community Kitchen Programs

Take-Out Window

  • The Manna take-out window offers no-cost meals prepared and served by staff and volunteers. Everything is served hot and ready-to-eat. Meals are served from 9am - 1pm, Monday through Friday.

  • Anyone who needs food is eligible, no questions asked. Just come by the window and see what we have to offer.

  • The take-out window is located on the West side of the building close to the entrance of the parking lot.

  • The Manna community pavilion is now open during the same hours as the take-out window and is accessible during all four seasons. People can dine at Manna or take their food to-go.

Community Fridge

  • The community fridge is a refrigerator located by the take-out window that holds cold, to-go meals at no cost.

  • The community fridge has meals to-go for anyone who needs food, no questions asked.

  • The community fridge is located on the West side of the building close the entrance to the parking lot next to the take-out window.

Food Market

  • Manna’s Market is a barrier free, choice-based food market located within the Manna Resource Center. The market is a food service aimed at helping families and people seeking assistance. There is no cost assocaited with shopping in the market.

  • The Food Market is open at the same time as the Resource Center.

  • Anyone is able to use the Food Market. It just takes a few minutes to gather basic information and create a profile so that they can access the Food Market and Resource Center.

Backpack Program

  • Manna collaborates with the Durango 9-R School District to provide children who are food insecure with seven nutritional meals each weekend during the school year. Once per week Manna volunteers, many of which are retired school teachers, pack and deliver the backpacks to schools with identified families. This program has operated since 2010.

  • It is essential for children who are food insecure to have access to food, as it is proven that nutrition is essential to academic success. While the free and reduced lunch program offers families support for their children during the school week, Manna is able to offer families support over the weekends.

  • School faculty identify food insecure students in-need to qualify for this program.

  • The backpacks are filled with nonperishable items that are easy to prepare. Each backpack contains two breakfasts, two lunches, three dinners, two snacks, a can of vegetables and a can of fruit.

Want to Volunteer in the Community Kitchen?

We are accepting volunteers! Please email or call (970)385-5095 ext. 105 for more information.