In today’s economic and healthcare climate, food and medical services can often be hard to come by at an affordable price.
The volunteers at Picayune’s Manna Ministries, Inc. are ready, willing and able to help people struggling with the mishaps of life.
Jameye Martin, a registered nurse working at a Slidell hospital at the time, founded Manna in 1999.
Martin’s father is James Hickman, the founding pastor of Resurrection Life Worship Center.
“My father told me about the requests he received from the elderly who couldn’t pay their bills, buy medications or food,” Martin said. “He told me we needed to help.”
Manna began with a food bank on Stafford Road in 1999 and a primary care clinic was added in March of 2005.
After Hurricane Katrina, the ministry was awarded a grant that funded the construction of their current facility.
“Our new facility was completed in 2008,” Martin said. “We are solely funded by grants and donations.”
According to Martin, an average of 350 people are served through the food bank each week. Last year, about 3,300 patients received care at the clinic.
Volunteers connect patients with drug companies to get a three-month supply of prescription medication either free or with a small co-payment, Martin said.
Manna also sponsors programs including Heart 2 Heart and Head & Heart.
Heart 2 Heart is a wellness program that address cardiovascular disease.
“We teach people how to take care of their health before it becomes a problem,” Martin said. “This program is free and open to the public. Orientation is Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at the Manna facilities.”
Head & Heart is an after school tutoring program designed to help children with their reading skills.
Manna coordinates with the schools and school officials to identify children who are not reading at the required level, Martin said. The program operates in eight-week cycles.
“Last year all but one of the children we served made the honor roll,” Martin said. “They were failing before. We like to make sure we are making a difference.”
The programs and clinical services offered at Manna are all managed by volunteers, Martin said. There are about 75 volunteers working on a weekly basis.
“Our goal is to take care of and serve the people of our community,” Martin said.
Program director Dixie Reneault has 28 years of experience in healthcare business operations and played a part in the creation of the clinic. She also writes grants on behalf of the organization.
“I’ve been working here for nine years now and my favorite part is that for various reasons and times people come to us with their needs and if we don’t have the resources, we can refer them to someone who does,” Reneault said. “It’s a natural fit and I love working here.”
Donna Davis has volunteered at Manna for the past two years and helps patients obtain their prescriptions.
“It’s wonderful here and they do a lot of good things,” Davis said. “I wanted to help out and felt like God wanted me to be here. The staff is kind and giving and the patients are very appreciative of what everyone does.”
Learn more about Manna Ministries, Inc. at www.mannaministry.net and through Facebook at Manna Ministries Inc. and Twitter at @MannaMinistrie2.
Manna Ministries’ clinic and food bank is located at 120 Street A Suite A in Picayune’s Industrial Park. Contact them by phone at 601-799-2121 and by email at Dixie@mannaministry.net. All donations and volunteers are welcome, Martin said.
The food and clothing bank is open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon. There is a food delivery route for homebound people with no transportation.
The clinic’s office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The providers serve patients by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call 601-799-2121 to make an appointment.