About Manna House

Manna House History

Manna House was founded in 1982 as an outreach of the Mountain Ministerial Association by Reverend Paul Hansen, Mr. Gary Cooper, and Mr. Bert Greenwood. Their vision was to provide emergency food and clothing with dignity, free of charge, to those in need.

Manna House operates under the umbrella of Shared Ministries–East Madera County DBA Manna House of Oakhurst, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

Following a four-month study conducted by a committee of local pastors, the recommendation was made to consolidate all efforts into a single location and identity: Manna House.

Leadership and Growth

  • 1992: Mr. Troy West was appointed Director in a volunteer capacity by the Mountain Ministerial Association.
  • 1996: Mr. West appointed Thomas Nicolulis as his Assistant.
  • 2006: The Association appointed Tom Nicolulis as Director.
  • 2011: With grant support from the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, Tom oversaw the design and construction of a 3,200 sq. ft. building at Manna House’s current site on Junction Drive, Oakhurst (New Life Church of the Nazarene property). A dedicated one-acre parcel was established for the ministry.
  • 2019: The Manna House Board of Directors appointed Mr. Bruce Bartlett as Director.
  • 2025: Tom Nicolulis was once again appointed as Director.

Our Services

Manna House serves the mountain communities by providing emergency food, clothing, and additional assistance through two core programs:

  • Special Projects – Directed by Tom Nicolulis, this program dedicates $1,200 monthly to help individuals and families with urgent needs such as utility bills (PG&E, propane, water), auto repairs, appliances, tires, and more.
  • Emergency Firewood – During cold months, volunteers cut, split, and deliver firewood at no cost to households facing urgent need.

Funding and Community Support

Manna House is funded entirely by donations from local residents, churches, and grateful families we have assisted in the past. Our annual operating budget exceeds $100,000, which supports:

  • Purchasing all food distributed
  • Providing turkeys and full meals for Easter and Thanksgiving
  • Supplying hams and holiday meals at Christmas
  • Partnering with the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots program to provide over 1,200 toys annually. Volunteers transform our facility into a holiday toy shop where parents and grandparents can choose gifts for their children.

Volunteers: The Heart of Manna House

More than 25 volunteers faithfully serve each week, many working one day from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, while others give daily. Their work includes:

  • Sorting and distributing food, clothing, and household items
  • Stocking shelves, packing food boxes, and providing bread, toiletries, diapers, and even pet food
  • Cutting, splitting, and delivering firewood
  • Assisting with home needs such as painting, ramp building, and appliance delivery
  • Offering comfort, compassion, and dignity to those who come through our doors, reflecting the love of Christ in all they do.

Impact

  • 2020: 32,765 individuals
  • 2021: 34,798 individuals
  • 2022: 33,415 individuals
  • 2024: 34,356 individuals

Why We Do This

“Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.” — Titus 3:14

Manna House continues its mission to meet urgent needs with dignity, compassion, and love—serving as a beacon of hope for our mountain communities.