Taking Bold Action… Keeping the Wagon Rolling

Many McKenna’s Wagon patrons do not know where their next meal will come from.

Even during a pandemic, McKenna’s Wagon has not missed a single night. Every day at 4:30 pm, volunteers load a Martha’s Table van with 200+ meals and head downtown to support neighbors experiencing hunger or housing insecurity.

But did you know that we provide more than just a warm meal?

Many McKenna’s Wagon patrons do not know where their next meal will come from. As we were innovating to meet the 400% increase in need for our grocery program, we faced another challenge: how will we ensure our McKenna’s Wagon guests, some of the most vulnerable to the dangers of the COVID-19 crisis, receive the nutritional support they need?

That’s when our wonderful community took bold action—organizing virtual sandwich-making parties, weekend church and temple food collections, and donation drives from neighbors, friends, and coworkers.

Because of the outpouring of support since March, every neighbor visiting McKenna’s Wagon receives not just a warm meal, but sandwiches, a pack full of nutritious snacks, and a large water bottle and tea.

One local family took bold action by rallying their friends and neighbors to amplify their sandwich-making goals. You’ll never guess how many sandwiches they have donated!

After enjoying making a batch of sandwiches with their kids, they wondered about the potential power of getting their friends and neighbors
involved. So, they got the word out.

Amber and Sterling were searching for a way to give back when they learned about our urgent need for sandwiches for McKenna’s Wagon. After enjoying making a batch of sandwiches with their kids, they wondered about the potential power of getting their friends and neighbors involved. So, they got the word out.

Word spread quickly, and pretty soon, their group blew past their original goal of 250 sandwiches each week to Martha’s Table. Amber and Sterling now give 1,400 sandwiches every week!

“The coolest part of it is how this community has been so generous,”

“Of the people dropping off sandwiches now, we don’t know a lot of them,” Amber shared. “People are just so excited to find ways to help, especially with their families!”

In fact, so many neighbors are contributing that they purchased four mini-fridges to keep sandwiches cold until their scheduled drop-off at Martha’s Table. Their new goal is to donate 20,000 total by the end of the year—and they are almost there…As of November 1, they had provided 17,500 sandwiches!

“The coolest part of it is how this community has been so generous,” Amber reflected.

Their story reminds us of the POWER of coming together as a community to take bold action.

A big “THANK YOU” to everyone who has supported our neighbors visiting McKenna’s Wagon!