History

1973    /    Manna House’s predecessor organization, Midtown Churches Association, opened a soup kitchen to assist the many community members who were knocking on church doors asking for food. The original location was in a row house on St. Paul Street. In 1986 the location moved to North and Calvert.

1986    /    A grant from Hands Across America allowed the association to launch a supplemental program called “Soup Plus Advocacy.” Soup Plus Advocacy reached out to agencies city-wide to locate the resources that its clients needed.

1987-2004    /    To carry out a transitional housing program, in 1987, the association rented an apartment house, and then in 1988, purchased a home to house families for 12-18 months. For the duration of transitional housing program, 36 families received shelter.

1990-1993    /    In 1989, a citywide committee working with the Department of Social Services, Visiting Nurses Association, and others, began a motel program to address the lack of shelter for homeless persons being discharged from the hospital. A grant from the State of Maryland allowed the purchase of a nursing home for an Extra Care Program that included: 24-hour staff, meals, and medical personnel. Unfortunately the project was discontinued because the building suffered extensive damage after it became the target for break-ins and vandalism.

1994    /    Manna House, Inc. becomes the new name for the Midtown Churches Community Association, Inc. The new name better reflected the involvement of the community in the organization. In addition, an expanded governing board formed, a diverse group with one central goal of helping the clients.

2000-2005    /    In 2000, Manna House was gifted the adjacent building for the express purpose of providing additional services to clients. A Drop-In Center was opened for clients following their morning meal. Generous grants from the ABELL Foundation, Northern Community Foundation, Atholton Donor Advised Fund, France-Merrick Foundation, and The Goldsmith Family Foundation funded the expansion to combine the two buildings. The expansion created a larger dining room, clothing room, meeting room, hospitality room, showers for clients, laundry room, elevator and sprinkler system. In April 2005 the work was completed and the additional services began.

2011-2015    /    The Manna House Men’s Health Project was a partnership with Baltimore City Health Department, Health Disparities Initiative. It used the “barber shop engagement” approach, because barbershops are uniquely positioned for health outreach to African American men. Community Health Outreach Workers (CHOW) engaged with underserved minority men waiting for services at the barber shops, assessed their health needs, assisted them in obtaining valid identification documents, enrolled them in a health care insurance program as needed, connected them to a health care provider, made needed referrals and provided transportation to and from appointments.