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Happy New Year!
As we look to the year ahead, we want to thank you for the support that made our critical work possible in 2023. Our sincere thanks to our Board of Directors, volunteers, donors, staff, and clients for making 2023 a fantastic year!
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Home-delivered Meals
- Nearly 278,000 meals were served to Home-delivered Meal clients in 2023.
- An average of 120 clients received pet food for their furry companions each month.
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3,315 bags of supplemental food were provided to low-income seniors, in addition to their regular meal delivery.
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An average of over 765 homebound and disabled seniors were cared for through our Home-delivered Meal program each month in 2023.
- Over 25,500 pounds of fresh produce were delivered through our Produce on Wheels program!
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Food Bank of Manatee
- Over 3,422,000 pounds of food was distributed from the Food Bank into Manatee County in 2023!
- Over 95 Food Pantries and Partner Agencies in our community are working with us to #FeedManatee.
- Over 37,800 pounds of fresh produce was provided free of charge through Mobile Produce Pantry distributions in high need areas.
- Nearly 2,300 Emergency Baby Baskets including diapers, wipes, and formula were provided to infants in crisis situations during 2023.
- Nearly 300 families received Emergency Food Baskets.
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Daybreak Adult Day Center
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An average of 69 clients each month were provided compassionate care, exciting programs and nutritional meals at Daybreak Adult Day Center, the only licensed and federally funded Adult Day Care Center in Manatee County.
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An average of 34 clients received transportation service each month, to and from Daybreak programming.
- Clients at Daybreak visited 10 countries between January and October through our "Arm Chair" travel adventures!
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Friendship Dining Centers
- Over 50 new clients joined our Friendship Dining Centers in 2023!
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An average of 29 clients participated each month at one of our Dining Center locations in 2023!
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Over 1,100 meals were provided to clients at our Friendship Dining Centers in 2023!
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Volunteers and Outreach
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Over 24,000 volunteer hours were served in 2023!
- An average of 225 volunteers each month helped advance our mission!
- Meals on Wheels PLUS participated in over 60 outreach events throughout Manatee County.
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Thanks to your support of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, seniors in Manatee County are receiving vital nutrition. During the busy holiday season, it can be easy to forget how much these meals mean to our clients and their families. Our thanks to Jane who sent us this beautiful photo and comment…
“My mom, Carol, has enjoyed your meals. Thank you for all that you do. She set her table and enjoyed the Thanksgiving meal you delivered.”
Thank you, Jane, for your kind words and for sharing this beautiful photo!
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Clients are so thankful for the Holiday Shoebox gifts they received during the month of December! Several clients reached out to express their gratitude for their holiday gift! Sally reached out to express her thanks! | “Thank you so much for my lovely Christmas present.” | |
Holiday Food Distributions | |
During the months of November and December, over 33,000 meals were distributed in just a matter of hours during our two holiday direct-distributions to the community. On November 20th we held our Thanksgiving Food4Families meal distribution, providing 500 families with frozen turkeys and side dishes to prepare at home. Record-breaking needs led to us running out of food very quickly and having to turn families away – a very heartbreaking experience for all. Our December distribution was held on the 18th and we prepared for 600 families. Giving away each and every ham, pie, and side dish, we know the Holidays were indeed brighter for food-insecure families in our community. Thank you to each and every supporter of our Food4Families program for helping to make our food distributions possible during 2023! | |
Thanksgiving Turkey Meal Distribution | |
Holiday Visitors at Daybreak Adult Day Center | |
Shanty Shakers Pay Holiday Visit to
Friendship Dining Center
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Current & Upcoming Events: | |
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Galentine's Brunch and Bubbly
Sunday, February 11, 2024
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee
Selby Foundation Nutrition Services Center
811 23rd Avenue East
Bradenton, FL 34208
Get More Info / Purchase Tickets
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Save the Date!
Tropical Nights: A Pirate's Life
Saturday, March 23, 2024
6:00-10:00pm
Grove Ballroom, Lakewood Ranch
More details coming soon!
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Community Spotlight: Big Response to
Holiday Shoebox
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Volunteer Spotlight: Micah Celebrates by Giving | |
Our thanks to Micah, who raised support for The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee as part of his bar mitzvah celebration. We are so proud of this young man for encouraging others to support the worthwhile cause of providing basic food and nutrition for those in need. Micah also came to help pack food at The Food Bank with our friends from Ian Black Realty who sponsored our Thanksgiving Meal Delivery bags! Thank you, Ian Black Realty and Micah! | |
Donor Spotlight: The Lake Club Turkey Trot Gives to The Food Bank of Manatee | |
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The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee was selected as the beneficiary of The Lake Club 4th Annual Turkey Trot event, held on Thanksgiving Day at The Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch.
The event hosted by Race Directors and residents David Ahrens, Jeff Waddle and Elizabeth Waddle consisted of three race distance options for participants to run, walk or jog - 1 mile, 5k or 10k. With more than 250 registrants, and 12 sponsors in 2023, including title sponsor David Ahrens, REALTOR® of RE/MAX Platinum Realty, it continues to be the largest event within the community each year.
"All monies raised came from our generous sponsors as well as via individual donations by residents of The Lake Club. The support for this event is so wonderfully enthusiastic each year," said David Ahrens, Race Director. "Our goal is simply to create a community-friendly event that raises funds for a very important cause. When you support the community directly, good things happen."
As a result, The Food Bank of Manatee is the recipient of an impressive $12,000 which will be used to help feed those in need in Manatee County this holiday season. Approximately 10,000 meals can be provided with the funds raised, proving that together, #WeFeedManatee! Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this event!
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Food Distribution Programs |January 2024 | |
If you are a senior needing meals delivered to your home, we can help! Our Home-delivered Meal program is available to Manatee County residents. | |
The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, provides non-perishable food items to local food pantries and soup kitchens. | |
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Our Mobile Produce Pantry will be out and about in the community providing fresh and nutritious produce free of charge.
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