Manzanita Outreach Receives Award

Manzanita Outreach will receive Rotary Club of Sedona’s Make A Difference Award during its annual Installation Ceremony to be held at 5 p.m., June 25 at Heartline Café. The organization, founded in 2011, was chosen for its efforts to end hunger in the Verde Valley. Club President Holli Ploog said, “It’s our pleasure to honor them for the tremendous work they do to share the abundance of food resources with those in our community who are hungry and in need.” Manzanita Outreach provides food for those in need in targeted areas throughout the Verde Valley, as well as monthly food boxes for seniors, and meal packing events. Executive Director Mike Newcomb said, “We are the fastest growing food assistance organization in northern Arizona.” With the help of thousands of volunteers and donors, Manzanita Outreach volunteers have packaged over 2 million meals. These meals have been delivered to food pantries in Yavapai County, victims of Hurricane Harvey and the AZ Tinder Fire, tribal communities in northern Arizona, and to starving children in Haiti. Manzanita Outreach will hold its annual Manzanita Meal Packing Day on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Verde Valley Fairgrounds in Cottonwood. The event packs about 150,000 meals. For sponsorship and volunteer information contact Karen at (928) 821-0945 or email Karen@ManzanitaOutreach.org In above photo Club President Holli Ploog (far left) presents two books to Sherrie Smith (center) and Don Smith (far right) who run Manzanita Outreach's book sharing program. Also in the photo is Donna Newcomb (2nd left) and Mike Newcomb (2nd right).