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Our Summer Hunger Campaign is underway, and with your support, The Food Bank of Manatee hopes to provide 22,500 meals each week during the nine-week summer break. We are focusing on the areas of our community with the greatest need, but even with strong efforts in motion, the demand is still rising.
Summer should be a carefree time for kids, full of play, fun, and memory-making. But for far too many families in Manatee County, it is a season of added stress. When children are out of school they do not have access to the school meals that so many children rely on. And that is where hunger creeps in.
In addition we support over 100 local food pantries throughout the county, and while we have not yet been directly impacted by recent federal cuts to Nutrition Assistance programs, we are already seeing the ripple effects. Families who have lost that support are turning to us, and we need the community to stand with us.
At just $1.50 per meal, every dollar makes a real impact. Every donation means more than just food on the table. It means relief for parents carrying the burden of food insecurity, and peace of mind knowing their children will not go to bed hungry.
Please give what you can. Your support today helps bring comfort, dignity, and nourishment to families who need it now more than ever.
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We are excited to share a story that truly shows what community collaboration can do. Thanks to Community Harvest SRQ, The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels of Manatee, received a generous donation of 21,854 pounds of fresh produce. That is over ten tons of healthy fruits and vegetables, including watermelons, cantaloupes, yellow squash, and some of the biggest zucchini we have ever seen!
This incredible donation did not happen overnight. It took 15 dedicated people working over four days, logging more than 400 hours in the fields, to gather this bounty. The produce was gleaned from Enza Zaden’s farms, made possible by a strong partnership between Community Harvest SRQ and local growers.
“We love to partner with Enza Zaden and other local farms to do good in our community,” said Program Director, Andrew Hudson of Community Harvest SRQ.
For those unfamiliar, gleaning is the practice of collecting leftover crops after the main harvest. These are often perfectly edible fruits and vegetables that did not make it to market, usually because of minor imperfections or surplus. Gleaning reduces food waste and helps ensure that fresh, nutritious food gets to people who need it most.
We are incredibly thankful to Community Harvest SRQ, Enza Zaden’s Farms, and the hardworking volunteers who made this donation possible. It is efforts like these that make a real difference in the fight against hunger in our community.
| | Helping Pets and Their People | | |
For Sandra, her pets Bailey and DC are more than just companions, they are family. Bailey, her loyal dog, and DC, her independent cat, are always by her side. But as Sandra, one of our Home-delivered Meals Clients has become more homebound, caring for them has become more difficult.
That’s where our Home-delivered Meals pet food program comes in.
“I’m not able to get out of the house much anymore,” Sandra shared. “The pet food is such a huge help. I honestly do not know what we would do without it.”
Thanks to community support and generous donations, we are able to deliver on average 200 pounds of dog and cat food each week right to the homes of clients like Sandra. It is one less worry for people already facing enough challenge, and it means their pets can stay healthy and cared for, too.
Sandra, Bailey, and DC are just one example of how a simple service can make a big difference. “We are all so grateful,” Sandra said. “It has made things so much easier.”
| | Crafting Connection at Our Friendship Dining Centers | | |
At our Friendship Dining Center, a PLUS Program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, creativity was in full bloom recently during a fun and meaningful craft activity that had our seniors feeling inspired, and a little sticky! Using natural slices of tree trunks as their base, participants created personalized stamped art by applying decorative stamps and sealing them.
Each wooden slice was transformed into a unique keepsake. The textures and rustic feel of the wood gave the project a warm, homemade charm, and provided a fun way for participants to express themselves and connect with others.
Beyond the final product, this activity sparked conversation, laughter, and a shared sense of accomplishment. It is a great example of how hands-on activities in our senior programs do more than pass the time — they build community, foster creativity, and keep spirits high.
Stay tuned for more highlights from our Friendship Dining Centers, where friendship and fun go hand in hand.
| | Furry Visitors Bring Comfort and Connection | | |
Once a month, Daybreak Adult Day Center clients enjoy some very special visitors— puppies from Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue and kittens from Cat Depot. These animal therapy visits have quickly become a favorite tradition at our Adult Day Center, and for good reason.
The moment the animals arrive, the room shifts. Clients light up, conversations spark, and smiles spread as they cuddle with the puppies and kittens. But the impact goes beyond just a fun experience, there is real science behind the comfort animals provide.
*Studies show that interacting with animals can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and ease feelings of loneliness. For older adults, those benefits are especially important. Regular contact with animals also supports emotional well-being and helps spark social engagement. ** Petting animals has been found to lower cortisol, the stress hormone, while boosting oxytocin, the hormone linked to bonding and relaxation.
At Daybreak, we have seen this firsthand. Clients reminisce about pets from their past, engage with staff and one another more easily, and seem more relaxed during and after the visits. It is a simple moment that makes a meaningful difference.
We are grateful to Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue and Cat Depot for sharing their time, and their animals with our community. These visits may only happen once a month, but the joy and comfort they bring lasts much longer.
*https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/02/power-pets
**https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-friend-who-keeps-you-young
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We’re so excited to announce that we’re featured in Target Circle™!
Vote for us in the Target app to direct Target funds that support our work.
Here’s how:
Step 1: Choose ‘My Target’ in the Target app or ‘Account’ on Target.com
Step 2: Tap ‘Cast votes’
Step 3: Find us & vote
Voting is open now and ends on September 30th.
| | Free Food Distributions Across Manatee County This Summer | | |
The Food Bank of Manatee a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS, in partnership with Food4Families, is providing free food distributions throughout Manatee County this summer. Each distribution includes enough fresh groceries, breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, to feed a family of five for at least two days.
No registration is needed. Just stop by and pick up the food you need. This program is part of our continued effort to support local families facing food insecurity.
Distributions are scheduled across multiple neighborhoods and will continue through the summer.
For dates, times, and locations, Click Here
Please note the delivery scheduled for July 4th, will take place on Thursday, July 3rd.
We are here to help—because no one should go hungry. You can also watch this recent ABC 7 story highlighting the impact of the program in our community.
| | Volunteer Spotlight: Early Learning Coalition Staff Gives Back | | |
Last week, the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of Manatee County held their staff meeting at Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, using the event space in the William G. & Marie Selby Foundation Nutrition Services Center. But they did not just meet, they made a difference.
After their meeting wrapped, all 42 staff members stayed to volunteer their time on two key projects that support our mission. The group helped wrap dozens of shoeboxes in preparation for our annual Holiday Shoebox program, which bring a little extra joy to seniors during the holiday season. They also painted ceramic bowls for our Empty Bowls fundraiser, which raises awareness and funding for hunger relief in Manatee County.
In addition to their volunteerism, the Early Learning Coalition is an ongoing partner in supporting local children and families. Through their book donation program, ELC regularly provides books that we distribute at community outreach events, including our Food 4 Families food distributions every Friday, ensuring kids not only go home with healthy food, but also with books to read and enjoy.
We’re grateful to ELC for their continued partnership, generosity, and hands-on involvement in helping us serve our community.
| | Donor Spotlight: Helping Seniors Prepare for Storm Season | | |
Hurricane season is here, and preparation is key, especially for vulnerable members of our community. That is why Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee partnered with The Florida Council on Aging and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) to assemble and deliver hurricane preparedness kits to 150 local seniors.
Each kit includes three days’ worth of shelf-stable food, water, and snacks— essentials that can make a big difference in the days following a storm. This effort ensures that our senior clients have immediate access to the supplies they need in the event of power outages or other disruptions.
We are grateful to FPL for their partnership and continued commitment to supporting our community through initiatives like this. Check out a great story ABC 7 ran on our amazing programs. Click here to watch.
Together, we are helping Manatee County stay safe, fed, and prepared.
| | Community Spotlight: Pop-Up Laundry Event Supports Families with Clean Clothes, Fresh Food, and Free Books | | |
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee was proud to participate in a special community event unlike any other. Coordinated by the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and sponsored by The Patterson Foundation, the Pop-Up Laundry event is intentionally unadvertised—designed to surprise and support local families in need.
Attendees had their laundry paid for on the spot, and children received free books to help foster a love of reading. Meals on Wheels PLUS joined in by distributing 4,000 pounds of fresh produce and bread through The Food Bank of Manatee.
These pop-up events are about meeting people where they are—with practical support and unexpected kindness. We’re grateful for the opportunity to work alongside partners who share our commitment to serving the community in creative and compassionate ways.
| | Food Distribution Programs |July 2025 | | If you are a senior needing meals delivered to your home, we can help! Our Home-delivered Meals 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. | | |
Our Mobile Produce Pantry will be out and about in the community providing fresh and nutritious produce free of charge.
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