Time is running out to make your 2021 tax-deductible gift!
The impacts of COVID-19 remain in our community as we continue to see increased needs for the critical services provided by Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee!
Hundreds of thousands of meals have been delivered this year and the need for basic nutrition will continue into the New Year and beyond. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to help feed our community in the months ahead.
Charitable gifts received before, or postmarked by, 12/31/21 are tax-deductible in the year they are made.
Thank you for your support!
Click here for more information about tax-deductible donations.
HELP US DURING THE 25 DAYS OF GIVING
“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”
-Howard Zinn
It’s the most wonderful time of year! It is the Season of Giving.
We have identified 25 needed items for our Holiday 25 Days of Giving list. Donating these items will help us meet immediate needs in our community! Our 25 Days of Giving, running from December 1st through Christmas Day, features one needed item each day. We created the calendar to give you practical ideas and make it very easy to know what to donate. Our hope is that you will donate each day, but we understand that it may be hard for everyone to be involved at that level. If that is the case, consider selecting the days that fit best for you.
Participate in 1 day, 5 days, 12 days, or all 25 days. We need you to be involved and take action this holiday season because our local community needs us now more than ever. Make a difference this holiday season! Click here for more information.
FILLED SHOEBOXES ARE NEEDED FOR THIS YEAR’S HOLIDAY SHOEBOX COLLECTION
Please join us for our 16th Annual Shoebox Collection on December 4th at the Lakewood Ranch Elks Lodge. We need 1,000 wrapped and filled shoeboxes to deliver to seniors throughout Manatee County. These boxes are oftentimes the only holiday presents our clients receive. Many of our seniors live alone and are so grateful to receive this special holiday gift. Please help us bring joy this year for Manatee County seniors! Click here for more information.
Holiday Dinner Giveaway
In an effort to bring the holiday spirit to local, food-insecure families, The Food Bank of Manatee will be distributing a Holiday dinner as part of the #Food4Families program. The distribution will be on Monday, December 20th at 4pm at Renaissance on 9th/Bradenton Dream Center, 1816 9th Street West, Bradenton FL 34205. The meal is for a family to prepare at home and will feed 5-6 people. For more information about our #Food4Families program, click here.
YARN DONATIONS NEEDED
Yarn donations are needed so that volunteers can make handmade blankets for our clients. Donations can be dropped off or shipped to our location at 811 23rd Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34208. Your donations are greatly appreciated.
Tuesday, November 30th was #GivingTuesday and we want to thank everyone who was so generous in supporting the critical work of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee as we work to provide vital nutrition to thousands in Manatee County.
Our deepest gratitude to Sara and Steve Bayard for their generous support and interest in helping those who need food, providing matching gifts.
We are so grateful to be able to share with you that, with the matching monies, and the thoughtful contributions of so many in our community, over $206,000 was raised to #FeedManatee!
EMPTY BOWLS 2021 WAS A SUCCESS
This year’s Empty Bowls events were a huge success. Hundreds of people attended the two events and $30,000 was raised to benefit The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee.
This kind of success would not be possible without the attendees and donors as well as our volunteers. And we are especially thankful to our Bowl Sponsors – CoolToday, Neal Communities, Manatee Performing Arts Center, and Lakewood Ranch Main Street; our Souper Sponsors – Community Foundation of Sarasota County, ABC7 Sarasota – WWSB, Carl Reynolds Law, and Bob & Carol Carter; our Gumbo Sponsors – Boar’s Head; and our Spoon Sponsors – Allegiance Group, The Allen Family, Cablish & Gentile, CPAs, LLC, Certified Public Accountants, CBIZ, Conditioned Air, Maintenance Too Paper Company, Inc., Michelle Detweiller, Mutual of America Financial Group. And also a huge thanks to the local restaurants that donated soup – Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Manatee Technical College, Popi’s Place, Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille Downtown Bradenton, Mattison’s City Grille, Metro Diner, Metro Diner, Central Cafe, Skyline Chili, Cremesh European Restaurant, Publix, Pier 22 Restaurant – Patio – Ballroom, GROVE Restaurant – Patio – Ballroom, The Granary LWR, Truman’s Tap & Grill, McGrath’s Irish Ale House, O’Bricks Irish Pub & Martini Bar, The Breakfast Company, and Oak & Stone.
SHOP AMAZON THROUGH US THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!
By clicking on our AmazonSmile page and choosing Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee as your preferred non-profit organization, a percentage of your Amazon purchase will be donated to Meals on Wheels PLUS and go a long way to feeding families in need! #WeFeedManatee
Subaru Share The Love 2021
Over the last 13 years, through the Share the Love Event, Subaru of America and its participating retailers have donated more than $176 million to charity, with customers choosing between four national and over 1,220 hometown charities. If you are purchasing a Subaru between November 18, 2021, and January 3, 2022, and choose Meals on Wheels, you will be helping feed thousands of homebound seniors in Manatee County. Click here for more information.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Helping the local community—that is a common statement we hear from organizations that donate to Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, and Threaded Fasteners is no different. Through their generous donation, more people in the local community will be served through our programs. Programs like Food4Families, Mobile Produce Pantry, Baby Basket Program, and Home-delivered Meals will be available to more people in Manatee County.
If you are interested in learning more about our current funding needs, there are opportunities for you to help, too! Click here to find out how!
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
When Tom and Janine volunteer at Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee you can practically hear the Fighting Irish song. After serving in the military and recently retiring, Tom and Janine were looking to volunteer somewhere to help the local community. Since Janine had volunteered at the Meals on Wheels in North Carolina, it was a natural fit. Now they help pack meals for the Wednesday meal deliveries and deliver meals themselves on Fridays to clients in the Palmetto area.
When they are not volunteering, they love spending time with their 2-month old grandson and anxiously await their next grandson who is on the way. And, of course, when they can, they try and make it to a Notre Dame football game and cheer on Tom’s favorite team, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Inspired by Tom and Janine’s story and interested in volunteering? You can become a volunteer today by registering here.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Kirkwood Presbyterian Church hosted their annual Virtual Christmas Market which honored nonprofit organizations including Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. Attendees were able to learn about our programs and mission. The Virtual Christmas Market also allowed attendees to donate to their favorite nonprofit! Community events like these make the world better, one donation at a time!
Donations like these make it possible for our mission to succeed in Manatee County. If you are looking for ways to donate, click here.
