Gardner Institute team members recently gathered in Asheville, NC, for our Organizational Development Days, time we set aside to align our work, strengthen our collaboration, and reflect on how we can better serve colleges and universities.

As part of our time together, we volunteer with local organizations: MANNA FoodBank, Downtown Asheville Crisis Ministry, and Hominy Valley Crisis. Our team helped sort and pack food, organize donations, and support on-the-ground services that assist individuals and families across the Asheville area.

Thank you to the dedicated teams at these organizations for welcoming us and for the essential work you do every day. We were grateful for the chance to listen, learn, and contribute in a small way.

About MANNA FoodBank

MANNA FoodBank, located in Asheville, North Carolina, is a private, not-for-profit service organization working to end food insecurity in the 16 counties of Western North Carolina, including the Qualla Boundary. MANNA links the food industry to over 200 partner pantries and other human service organizations to get food to thousands of families’ tables. We are a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization. Together we can solve hunger.

Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry

Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) is a leading faith-based nonprofit organization addressing poverty, hunger, homelessness, and access to healthcare for underserved populations across North Carolina. Supported by over 300 churches and more than 5,000 trained volunteers annually, ABCCM serves over 30,000 individuals each year through seven core ministries.

Since its founding in 1969 as a small collaboration of local churches, ABCCM has grown into a vital local and statewide resource. Its services include transitional and permanent housing through three facilities with 450 beds, workforce development and job placement, free medical and pharmacy care, and support for incarcerated individuals. Additionally, ABCCM provides peer support and substance use services, as well as comprehensive programs for veterans and their families across North Carolina, with offices in Asheville, Charlotte, Fayetteville, and Jacksonville.

Through its ministries, ABCCM continues to offer critical support to families in crisis, addressing both immediate needs and fostering long-term self-sufficiency and stability. The organization serves all individuals in need, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability.