A longtime apple supplier for Ingles Markets donated over 1,300 cases of apples to help bring fresh fruit to a community recovering from Helene.
The truck from Stemilt arrived at MANNA FoodBank in Mills River on Wednesday morning.
"This apple donation is coming at a great time where we'll be able to continue to support our community. This is summertime where families will be able to enjoy the apples and send them with their children. Such an easy, convenient healthy snack for our kids so we're very excited," said MANNA chief operating officer Elizabeth Hipps.
The grower has been a supplier for Ingles for more than 30 years.
"Joston gave me a call one day and she said we have all these extra apples and we would like to donate them and we thought, 'what better place to do that than to give them to MANNA'," said Ingles event manager Ruby Downes.
The company dropped off 1,320 cases of Lil Snappers apples to support the community and express gratitude for its strength.
MANNA FoodBank partners with over 300 community-based nonprofit food assistance agencies across 16 counties and the Qualla Boundary.
STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSLocal apple supplier donates 1,320 cases to aid the community