Manna - The Durango Soup Kitchen

Since 1985, Manna has operated in Durango, Colorado, evolving from a community response to a tragedy at the La Plata County Fairgrounds into a comprehensive resource center for food security and poverty alleviation. The organization provides hot and cold meals through a take-out window and a community fridge, alongside a food market stocked with produce, meat, and canned goods sourced from local donations. A second building, constructed in 2014, houses a training and commercial kitchen that supports job skills development for program participants. In 2020, Manna merged with The Garden Project of SW Colorado, expanding its reach into garden education and nutrition programs. The organization also addresses housing insecurity through transitional support and stable housing initiatives designed to be safe, affordable, and accessible. Over 450 annual volunteers help deliver these wraparound services, which aim to break the cycle of poverty by addressing barriers such as addiction, mental illness, and lack of marketable job skills.