On Monday, April 22, 2024, our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon was held in the Selby Foundation Nutrition Services Center on our main campus in Bradenton, Florida. A delicious buffet lunch was provided by Chef2Home by Metz and entertainment was provided by local entertainer Larry Breidenbach. Guests enjoyed a delicious meal, fabulous entertainment, and remarks and award presentations from President & CEO Maribeth Phillips and members of the Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee staff. Awards were presented to Champion's Circle and Notable Volunteers. | |
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Congratulations to our Volunteer Awards recipients who were recognized for achieving milestones and notable accomplishments!
Champion’s Circle Volunteers
Volunteers Who Served 300 Hours or More in the Last Year
Liz Kappel
Cheri Lindgren
Daniel McNeil
Karen McNeil
Craig Taylor
Marjorie Taylor
Dennis Walsh
Notable Volunteers
Nancy Wright – Best Daybreak Adult Day Center Volunteer
Marilyn Evans – Friendship Dining Center Volunteer of the Year
Debra Hennessy – Food Bank Volunteer of the Year
Mike Gerbasio & Cindy Hopkins – Dynamic Duo
Jon Wengel – Telephone Reassurance Volunteer of the Year
Russell Wright – Exceptional Car Loader
Linda Stella – Outstanding Administrative Volunteer of the Year
Dennis Walsh – Outstanding Meal Delivery Driver
Mace Crowe – Rookie of the Year
Camden Pope – Youth Volunteer of the Year
Liz Kappel – Volunteer of the Year
Our sincere gratitude goes to all of our volunteers, our heroes. We could not do the work that we do without their commitment. If you are interested in volunteering for Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, click on the button below.
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Free Laundry Services & Fresh Produce at
Pop-up Laundry Event | |
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The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, was thrilled to participate in a Pop-up Laundry event hosted by The Patterson Foundation on April 6, 2024, at Supermatt Laundromat in Bradenton. At the event, The Patterson Foundation paid for customers' laundry to be washed and The Food Bank of Manatee provided fresh produce, free of charge to participants. Over 3,600 pounds of produce was distributed during the three hour event.
The purpose of the Pop-up Laundry event is to provide families with a little extra help by providing complimentary laundry service - a necessity for every family! Adding the nutrient-rich fresh fruits and vegetables, which are often bypassed when money is tight, is an added bonus that families really appreciate. This partnership with The Patterson Foundation is a great example of how organizations in our community work together to meet the needs of Manatee County residents! Together, #WeFeedManatee!
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With hundreds of clients throughout Manatee County benefitting from our Home-delivered Meals program, it's no wonder these volunteers and staff members are smiling! Through this flagship program that most people think of when they think of Meals on Wheels, we provide meals, fresh fruits and vegetables, and pet food to seniors throughout Manatee. Volunteers and staff also check on the wellbeing of clients through these visits as well as weekly phone calls. We have heard firsthand from our clients that this program is a lifeline for them, and we are grateful to each and every person who makes it all come together day after day.
Our work would not be possible without the generosity of our donors, volunteers, and funding partners, who we are so grateful for.
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Personal Terrariums Created at Daybreak | |
Two Volunteers, Carol and Carole, assisted clients at Daybreak Adult Day Center in designing and making a personal terrarium. The volunteers supplied all the materials for this amazing garden therapy class and the clients loved it! Thank you to these special ladies for investing their talent and resources to brighten the day of our Daybreak Adult Day Center clients. | |
A multi-generational nutrition education activity was held in the Selby Foundation Nutrition Services Center. Members of our Friendship Dining Center hosted students in 5th-8th grades from The Woodland Academy. Together, the groups learned about the value of regularly eating fresh fruits and vegetables and created fruit kabobs with a yogurt dipping sauce. The students also learned some math lessons on doubling the recipe, working with fractions, and counting fruit pieces. New friendships were made during this lovely event! | |
The Friendship Dining program is a great opportunity for the people of the community to connect, engage in fun activities, participate in new experiences, and enjoy a nutritious meal. This program is growing and we are always looking for new friends to join! Participants must register for program. If you are interested in learning more about this, or any of our Friendship Dining locations, please call 941-747-4655. | |
Current & Upcoming Events: | |
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The Nutrition Services Center Is Available for Your Graduation Party or Other Events!
This beautiful and affordable venue is close to LECOM Park where many local graduation ceremonies are held! The Center is also a great venue for a birthday party, retirement party, or baby shower! For more information or to schedule a tour, call us at 941-747-4655 and ask for Melissa at extension 2116.
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Please vote EVERY DAY for Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee to win the Bradenton's Best Nonprofit Award. Voting ends on Friday, May 10th -- vote each day! Vote for us under Services > Nonprofit Organization. | |
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Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
Join in hunger relief-efforts in Manatee County by placing non-perishable food items in your mailbox on Saturday, May 11th. Food donated in the following zip codes will come directly to The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee:
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- Palmetto
- Parrish
- Ellenton
- Myakka
- Bradenton Beach
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34221
34219
34222
34251
34217/34218
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Empty Bowls Painting Parties
Volunteers are needed to help us paint bowls for our upcoming Empty Bowls event in November. Bowl Painting Parties will be held from 9:30 am - 11:30 am on the following dates:
- Wednesday, May 8
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Wednesday, May 15
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Wednesday, May 22
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Wednesday, May 29
- Tuesday, June 4
Registration is required to ensure there are ample supplies available. Secure your spot for all days you wish to attend by using the link below.
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It's "Cereal"- ously Summer!
During the summer months, many children who rely on school meals for their daily nutrition face food insecurity. Please help our children this summer by donating cereal!
Drop off your non-perishable food items at all Manatee County Goodwill locations, Manatee County Public Library locations, the Manatee Chamber of Commerce Lakewood Ranch Office, or anywhere you see yellow Food Bank of Manatee donation barrels. Donations can also be dropped off at:
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Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee
811 23rd Ave. East, Bradenton, FL 34208
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Daybreak Adult Day Center
10920 State Road 70 E, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
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8:30am - 4 pm Monday through Friday. Limited operations on holidays. | |
Donor Spotlight: 2024 Giving Challenge a Success! | |
The 24-hour Giving Challenge held on April 9th and 10th resulted in strong community support for Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. In just twenty-four hours, $76,500 was raised to support our lifesaving mission! This is a significant achievement and will undoubtedly make a real difference in helping #FeedManatee during the upcoming summer months. It is amazing to witness the power of collective giving and the impact it can have on local communities. The event was hosted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation. Kudos to all the donors, supporters, and organizers involved in making this Giving Challenge a success! Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee anticipates receiving this funding in early July which will help meet the demand for food this summer. | |
Community Spotlight: Waterlefe Food Drive | |
A big thank you to Volunteers, Melanie and Karen, who organized a food drive in their Waterlefe community. In total, the residents donated 1,988 pounds of non-perishable food items and additional cash donations. The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS, is in need of food to stock the empty shelves. If you or anyone you know would like to host a food drive, find out more by clicking the button below. | |
Volunteer Spotlight: Ceramics Class at Senior Friendship Center | |
Special thanks to our friends in the ceramics class at Senior Friendship Center for creating beautiful bowls to be used at our 2024 Empty Bowls event on Friday, November 8th, at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. We are so grateful for the time and effort taken to create these special bowls! | |
Food Distribution Programs |May 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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Thanks to our 2024 Sponsors! | | | | |
