Appalachian Region’s 2nd Annual Oktoberfest Celebration fundraiser for MANNA FoodBank generated $15,000 in donations that will provide 60,000 meals for Western North Carolina (WNC) neighbors facing food insecurity issues.
The 2023 fundraising results were 43% greater than the 2022 fundraising efforts where Appalachian Region members donated $10,494 that provided 41,980 meals for their WNC neighbors.
Fundraising efforts for MANNA consisted of four initiatives:
- Half the registration fee of $75 per person to attend Oktoberfest was identified as being a donation to MANNA FoodBank.
- Extra donations were solicited from members as either a pure donation or purchasing ticket to win one of two Ceramic Coatings from Region Sponsors, K&M Collision and IR Auto, or a Porsche Design Watch donated by a member.
- Two Appalachian Region sponsors, K&M Collision and Hagerty Insurance provided matching fund donations.Burning Blush Brewery, a regular destination for the Appalachian Region Social Mixers were also kind enough to make a donation to MANNA in support of the Appalachian Region fundraising effort.
- Appalachian Region PCA made a contribution.
The Oktoberfest Celebration
The October 28, 2023 Oktoberfest Celebration was held at a new venue this year, The Old Bishop Place Farm, a private 600-acre manicured estate with a picnic pavilion, walking trails and sculptures sprinkled throughout the estate.
Over 180 PCA members, guests and sponsors participated in Oktoberfest that started with five driving tours that started throughout Western North Carolina and converged on The Old Bishop Place Farm in Cedar Mountain, North Carolina.
L to R: Appalachian Region member and MANNA Board member Judy Butler, MANNA Development.
Officer Chad Conaty, Appalachian Region President Jim Moore and Oktoberfest Chair George Cain.
At the Farm, attendees were greeted with a German Oomph band performing while they enjoyed a pretzel and mustard appetizer before enjoying an authentic German meal of Schnitzel or Brats with sauerkraut, hot potato salad or red cabbage with an apple strudel or Black Forest Cake dessert.
The view of red Porsches, with a backdrop of the lake and a fall colorful mountainside while enjoying a German lunch with the Oomph band playing, was spectacular. The setting made this Oktoberfest very special.
After lunch, a traditional Oktoberfest stein-holding competition was held that crowned a male and female champion. Hagerty Insurance provided wonderful prizes for the winners.
L to R: Nicole Davis, Trish McGrath and Rebecca Houmann
Throughout the day door prizes were also awarded. The final activity was announcing the three winners of the ticket auction for the three big prizes.
In the end though, Oktoberfest was all about enjoying Porsche friends while contributing to the community through support of MANNA FoodBank.
How the Oktoberfest Celebration Supports MANNA FoodBank
While Oktoberfest 2023 celebration is planned for the enjoyment of our members, a key element of our celebration is the Appalachian Region’s community support commitment.
The Appalachian Region has supported MANNA FoodBank since before Appalachian Region was formed in 2015. The impact of food insecurity in WNC has increased since that time.
As of May 2023, MANNA and its Partner Network served more people in one month than ever in the organization’s 40-year history. Over 155,000 individuals received much-needed food at a food distribution in the month of May. Prior to 2020, MANNA served an estimated 65,000 people each month.
Across the board, the members of its dedicated MANNA Partner Network are reporting increases in the numbers of senior citizens, families with young children, and employed individuals who work full time yet still can’t afford food.
Our neighbors across WNC are right now facing an ongoing socioeconomic perfect storm: skyrocketing housing costs combined with steadily rising living costs, including food and transportation. Paired with wages that – while rising, are hardily keeping up – these factors are straining already-stretched budgets. MANNA and its network of food providers is often the thing helping a household scrape by from one month to the next. Neighbors attending markets, report that without MANNA support and its Partner Network, many would have nothing to eat.
Thank you for your support…
Thank you to Appalachian Region PCA members, and the out of region PCA members who attended and donated to MANNA, sponsors and the Rogow family, owners of The Old Bishop Place Farm.
Jim Moore – Appalachian Region President