Help Homebound Seniors Flourish
In our mission to assist individuals to live independently by providing nutrition and caring, supportive services across Manatee County, we are working every day to bring more than just food to the doors of our neighbors who needs it most.
In a rapidly growing senior population, 1 in 5 Americans are 60 years or older* and 1 in 4 seniors live alone.** The number of seniors who are homebound is only increasing. Many seniors are not able to drive themselves to the grocery store, or must make the choice between buying food and paying for things like medication and utilities. No one should have to live like this, especially in their later years. This is where we come in.
In addition to our Home-delivered Meals program, we also:
- distribute fresh produce to seniors through our Produce on Wheels program- last month nearly 4,000 pounds of produce was distributed!
- provide access to additional shelf-stable foods like canned fruits, veggies, and meats through our Nutrition Addition program – last month over 170 bags of shelf-stable foods were added to the cupboards of our seniors neighbors.
- provide food for four-legged furry companions through our Pet Food program- last month 30 clients received pet food!
All of these services are offered at no additional cost and make a difference in the lives of our clients!
Thank you for making this important work possible!
* ** Meals on Wheels America, mealsonwheelsamerica.org/learn-more/the-issue
Stuff The Bus 2021
presented by Mosaic
The global pandemic has caused food-insecurity in our community to skyrocket. The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, has been the leading, local source of nutrition in Manatee County since 1985. As the only food bank based in Manatee County, we need your help to Stuff the Bus this year! 100% of the proceeds and food collected will stay in Manatee County.
Sunday, October 17, 2021
9:00am-3:00pm
All Manatee County Publix Locations
Goal: Raise 150,000 pounds of food to feed Manatee County residents!
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, click here.
If you are interested in volunteering for Stuff the Bus, click here.
Eat Well. Do Good.
Help Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee By Dining At Any Columbia Restaurant During the Month of September
Meals on Wheels PLUS has been selected as charity of choice for the 24th annual Community Harvest program with Columbia Restaurant Group. This event will take place during the month of September. When you dine at Columbia Restaurants, please select Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee on your ballot and a percentage of your total bill will be donated to Meals on Wheels PLUS in the form of gift certificates. We use the gift certificates in our silent auctions and raffles to generate income to advance our mission!
Donor Spotlight
Round Up! Learning Express Toys of University Park, in support of Hunger Awareness Month, asked their customers to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar. As a result, they were able to raise $1,000 to go towards feeding food-insecure children in Manatee County. “We can’t thank our customers enough for supporting this cause,” says Chris S., co-owner of Learning Express Toys.
Inspired by the generosity of Learning Express Toys? You can round up at your business to help feed our community, too! Call us today at 941-747-4655 to find out how!
Volunteer Spotlight
The day begins with breakfast at Sage Biscuit Cafe and eventually lunch at Panera Bread. In between? Picking up meals to deliver to senior clients in the inner city of Bradenton.
Having moved from Maine and retiring in Bradenton in the Fall of 2009, Ron and Marcia were looking for a volunteer experience that would make them feel like they were helping others. They soon found that experience with Meals on Wheels PLUS and became Home-delivered Meal drivers. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, they helped with our Telephone Reassurance Program by calling clients to check in on them and make sure they were okay. Ron and Marcia both loved talking with the clients, especially knowing they may be the only people that spoke with the clients during the week. After the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, they returned to delivering meals AND continued volunteering with the Telephone Reassurance program. The joy they receive from volunteering is clear when they deliver the meals on their route.
What gives Ron and Marcia the most satisfaction from volunteering? “It’s meeting the people, providing something they need, and caring for them on a regular basis,” they say. Inspired by Ron and Marica’s service to our clients? You can become a volunteer today by registering here.
Community Spotlight
A sip of sunshine! Through July of 2021, Tropicana has donated nearly 340,000 pounds of juice and soup to The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. Partnering with local businesses and organizations bring us together as a community and help us #FeedManatee.
As an independent food bank, The Food Bank of Manatee relies 100% on community support. Monetary and food donations go a long way toward combating hunger in our local community! Click here to donate.
