Manna After Michael plans aid for Donalsonville

DONALSONVILLE — Manna After Michael donors and volunteers from Albany will make one of two trips to Donalsonville on Thursday to feed volunteers, linemen, firefighters and other city personnel who have been working nonstop since Hurricane Michael hit their community on Oct. 10.

Ward III Albany City Commissioner B.J. Fletcher said she plans to feed approximately 500 people.

“Up until just a few short days ago, the linemen and all the volunteers have been doing everything they can to get these people up and running, and they were coming home to no lights, no water, no hot meals,” Fletcher said. “We’re their neighbor. (Donalsonville) is our neighbor that we should be concerned about.”

Fletcher said volunteers will cook the food and serve it cafeteria-style to Donalsonville residents so they can sit down and enjoy their meals. Manna After Michael will be held at Donalsonville Fire Rescue at 11:30 a.m.

“Our teams will go down there Wednesday night, and we’ll set up the tables, the dishes, the silverware,” the Albany commissioner said. “My staff will get over here Thursday morning, about 2 o’clock in the morning, and we’ll start smoking up the fresh chicken and cooking up the fresh vegetables. We will be ready to serve the first person at 11:30 (a.m.).”

Donations from attorney Ken Nugent, PC, Lion’s Club International of Albany, BJ’s BBQ and Buffet, Aspire Behavioral Health and Wild Flour Café have supported the Manna After Michael efforts.

“Aspire has really stepped up,” Fletcher said. “They’re bringing a group (of volunteers). They have been tremendous. Wild Flour’s cooking portions of the food, and we’ll cook the other portions.”

Fletcher added that other volunteers could bring a covered dish to bring more food to Donalsonville.

“Even though we’re doing the meat, the starches, the veggies and the bread, I would like to see somebody (bring food) if they had some drinks they wanted to bring by or if they had some desserts,” Fletcher said. “I want to make it nice for them. … Thanksgiving’s coming upon us. If we can deliver Thanksgiving a little early to them, that’s what I hope to do.”

To volunteer, donate or ask for more information, call or text Fletcher at (229) 894-9443. Donalsonville Fire Rescue is located at 300 North Tennille Ave.