The Manna Food Project proposes the installation of temperature-controlled food lockers—available 24/7 year-round—to ensure that individuals and families facing food insecurity in Northern Michigan have consistent, convenient access to healthy, nutritious food. This innovative initiative responds to a sharp increase in local food insecurity and builds on Manna’s commitment to providing food with dignity, flexibility, and efficiency.
Since 2021, the Manna Food Project and its network of partners have seen a dramatic rise in the number of people needing food assistance. The organization’s onsite pantry alone has experienced a 173% increase in individuals served between 2021 and 2024. While Manna currently operates through regularly scheduled pantry hours, these do not accommodate everyone. Work shifts, medical appointments, lack of transportation, poor weather conditions, and health challenges often prevent people from accessing the food they need. Additionally, high demand during pantry hours can lead to long wait times—sometimes over an hour—creating further barriers for those in need.
The food locker program will remove these barriers. Located outside the Manna Food Project facility, the temperature-controlled lockers will allow individuals to access fresh, refrigerated, and frozen food at any time—day or night. Integrated with the OrderAhead online platform, this system will allow users to order groceries from their phones or computers, schedule pickup times, and receive notifications when their food is ready. Each locker is outfitted with an accessible kiosk that provides safe, secure, and private access to the recipient’s designated groceries.
This approach not only expands access but also restores autonomy and dignity to the food assistance process. Guests can choose what food they receive, ensuring that meals suit their preferences, dietary needs, and cultural norms. Moreover, providing nutritious, perishable food—such as dairy, meats, and fresh produce—will help improve long-term health outcomes for food-insecure households.
Manna’s locker program will be implemented with the help of its existing volunteer network—over 300 strong—who will assist in assembling orders and placing them in the lockers. In addition to relieving pressure on in-person pantry operations, the lockers will serve as a vital tool in emergency food access, ensuring that help is available at any time, even when the pantry is closed.
This initiative reflects the evolution of food banking. What began as an emergency response 60 years ago has now become a vital support system for individuals living paycheck to paycheck, including working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and people with disabilities. For some, food insecurity is temporary—triggered by unexpected expenses or income loss. For others, it is chronic. In either case, not knowing where the next meal will come from causes serious anxiety and stress.
A recent Manna pantry survey revealed that 95% of guests said the service significantly reduced their stress and anxiety. With 24/7 food lockers, Manna will expand its reach, eliminate access barriers, and provide compassionate, efficient support for more neighbors in need—helping them move from crisis to stability with dignity.