Mills River -- September 2, 2026: As construction continues on MANNA FoodBank’s new regional facility in Mills River, the organization is inviting community members across Western North Carolina to etch their support into the foundation of its future.
Through a newly announced engraved paver campaign, supporters can purchase and personalize bricks that will form the primary entrance walkway into the new facility. The effort offers donors, volunteers, partner agencies, and advocates a physical, enduring presence at the hub that will anchor hunger relief efforts across 16 mountain counties and the Qualla Boundary for generations to come.
The personalized pavers allow supporters to:
Commemorate family names or honor community champions who inspire hunger relief efforts.
Celebrate milestones of volunteer service, community partnerships, or regular giving.
Mark a personal commitment to building a hunger-free future where every mountain neighbor has reliable access to fresh, nutritious food.
MANNA is partnering with local specialty engraver Capstone Engraving to produce the custom walkway pavers.
The campaign arrives at a pivotal moment for the regional food bank. Following the devastating destruction of its longtime Swannanoa River Road distribution headquarters during Tropical Storm Helene, MANNA quickly established temporary relief operations in Mills River. The new permanent Mills River site represents not only critical recovery, but an expanded capacity to source, store, and distribute millions of pounds of food annually through its network of over 300 partner pantries, schools, and meal programs.
Community members interested in ordering an engraved brick or learning more about the walkway project can visit mannafoodbank.org.