Open for business: Local organization continues to serve people in need

CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. – With the spread of the coronavirus organizations like Manna Cafe in Chincoteague are pushing to help more and more people in need during these difficult times.

“We know people are more in need as this goes on,” said Fran Lytle, co-founder of Manna Cafe.

This team helps serve hundreds of people who can’t afford food right now every single week.

In order to keep up with this new demand, they’re depending on things like federal aid, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore as well as companies like Sysco to help.

But we’re told it hasn’t been easy.

“So, when we go to pick up that food on Tuesday, my husband and George Young pick up the food, they’re picking up 6,000 pounds of food,” said Fran.

“When they pull that back into the church, we have only 10 volunteers,” said Fran.

Fran says they’ve had to keep smaller groups of volunteers during the pandemic to help maintain public safety.

On top of that, there have been fewer opportunities to raise money to buy more food.

“So, all of our fundraisers that we had planned through the first half of the year at least have been canceled,” said

“So, we’ve had to replace those fundraisers with donations that we can try to get otherwise,” said Bill Lytle, co-founder of Manna Cafe.

But despite these challenges, we’re told community members are stepping up to the plate to help this organization with donations and more while helping to make a difference during these trying times.

“This town just does what it needs to do to take care of each other and it’s just remarkable how wonderful they do it and how happy they do it and what joy it brings to them,” said Bill.

Manna Cafe says they’re in need of more monetary donations.

If you’re interested in helping out all you have to do is click on their donate button on their website.