Each year, Manna celebrates National Volunteer Appreciation Week by honoring the dedicated operational volunteers and steadfast volunteer groups who’ve donated their time to fighting hunger. National Volunteer Appreciation Week is held every April during Global Volunteer Month, to recognize and celebrate the impact of volunteers.
“We could not do what we do without the support of volunteers,” said DeDe Flounlacker, Manna Executive Director. “They fulfill several important roles at Manna, including packing food bags and boxes according to USDA Standards for a Healthy Diet, scheduling appointments for food recipients, and driving Manna vehicles to deliver food and pick up donations.”
In 2024, nearly 4,600 volunteers gave more than 14,700 hours of service at Manna. According toIndependentSector.org, their work is valued at $511,413 – the equivalent of healthy food for a day for 102,182 people, or 306,847 nutritious meals!
Each April, Manna volunteers are recognized at a luncheon, where certificates and President’s Volunteer Service Awards are presented. In 2003, the US President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too. The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation.
President’s Volunteer Service Awards (PVSA) were presented to the following individuals:
Gold PVSA (500+ hours): Rita Perling (639.75 hours), Eugene Becerra (828 hours), and William VanPelt (1,766.25 hours)
Silver PVSA (250-499 hours): Becky Fleischhauer (301), Hilda Giorlando (329.5), and Kitty Blake (362.5)
Bronze PVSA (100-249 hours): Terry Harper (108.75), Kathy McCarty (121.5), Robbie Harvey (135.5), Ron Hull (137), Kim Swann (176.75), David Davies (186.25), Ann Cooper (188.75), and Vicki Sauer (205.75)
Cokesbury United Methodist Church (Gold), Navy Federal Credit Union (Gold), and Gulf Winds Credit Union (Bronze) were recognized in the Volunteer Group category.
Other volunteers honored at the luncheon were: Grayson Armour, Traci Baurberg, Elizabeth Berry, Judith Birdwell, Arianna Bloom, Michele Carlton, Ron Curtis, Randi Dodge, Chuck Emling, Mike Gottstine, Shruti Gupta, Denise Harper, Paula Harris, Dani Holmes, Mary Hull, Kristen Judd, Carolyn Kinne, Paula Lamont, Loren Lazear, Banicia Mattox, Jim McCarty, Jim Morningstar, Sarah Morris, Evan Noon, Amesia Page-Herd, Indira Patel, Becky Purcell, Liana Raggio, Jim Ramminger, Candy Ringler, Emily Rogers, Mikaela Santos, Sally Silecky, Victor Silecky, Sophie Stoddard, Beverly Stokes, Mike Stokes, Susan Stoneman, Lauren Storey, Mike Troup, Debbie Vaughn, Neal Vaughn, Gray Vick, Aiden Wallace, Ken Whetstone, Kevin White, and Susan White, as well as Global Methodist Church volunteers.
About Manna
Manna’s mission is to offer emergency food assistance, service the food-related needs of vulnerable populations, and engage the entire community in the fight against hunger. A local grassroots organization with no national affiliation or government funding, Manna provided food to 67,427 people last year. Manna operates an emergency food assistance pantry and 16 specialty programs with 23 community partners in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
