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Tropical Nights: In the Wild West Rides to Record-breaking Success
Our community saddled up and showed up in unforgettable style for this year’s Tropical Nights: In the Wild West, and what an incredible night it was! From the moment guests arrived in their best cowboy and cowgirl attire—complete with boots, hats, fringe, and plenty of Western flair—the energy was nothing short of electric.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, this year’s event, held on Friday, March 6, became our most successful fundraiser in Tropical Nights history! The spirit of giving was brighter than ever, helping us raise vital funds for The Food Bank of Manatee and Meals on Wheels PLUS. Every dollar donated helps ensure that our neighbors in need receive nutritious meals, support, and hope.
The excitement didn’t stop at the saloon doors. Our online auction reached new heights, drawing enthusiastic bidding and remarkable participation from supporters near and far. From unique experiences to coveted items, the auction was a standout success and played a major role in our record‑breaking year.
Most importantly, the evening reminded us of what truly makes our community special: coming together to make a difference. The camaraderie, kindness, and shared purpose in the room were felt by all—and will continue to ripple outward through the services these funds support.
Thank you to everyone who dressed up, showed up, bid boldly, and gave generously. Because of you, our mission rides on stronger than ever. Here’s to another year of community, compassion, and extraordinary impact!
| | | Thank you to Our Online Auction Donors | |
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Giving Challenge 2026
April 15-16 noon to noon.
Remember The Food Bank of Manatee and Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee during the upcoming Giving Challenge and support our mission to assist individuals to live independently by providing nutrition and caring, supportive services.
In celebration of the 10th iteration of the Giving Challenge, The Patterson Foundation will strengthen giving during the 2026 Giving Challenge with a 1:1 match on all unique donations between $25 and $100 per donor, per nonprofit organization — with no cap on the number of individual matches from unique donors a nonprofit organization can receive.
Choose The Food Bank of Manatee/Meals on Wheels PLUS for your Giving Challenge donation!
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Friendship Dining Center New Location!
Join Us for an Open House!
Friday, April 10th, 9 am-1 pm
Redeemer Lutheran Church
6311 3rd Ave. West,
Bradenton, FL 34209
We are excited to open a new Friendship Dining Center in West Bradenton! Join us for our Open House to learn more about the program!
Friendship Dining Centers invite people 60 years old, and over, who would like to make new friends, participate in fun activities, and explore and learn new things. All Friendship Dining Center clients receive daily nutritious meals, build friendships, and have fun!
*First time attendees must call 941-747-4655 at least 1 day prior to attending.
Looking for a Friendship Dining location near you? Click here for more location details: Learn More.
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Bradenton's Best Voting Begins
April 20th 11:55 pm
Mark your calendars! Vote for us for Best Nonprofit Organization under the "Services" category for Bradenton's Best 2026!
Don't stop there- you can vote for us once a day until voting ends on May 8, 2026, at 5pm.
We want to be your choice again this year for Bradenton's Best Nonprofit Organization!
VOTE FOR US
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Free Community Shred Day &
Food Bank of Manatee Food Drive
Join Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority, Stewardship District, Community Activities, and the Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee for a free community Shred Day and Food Drive. Take advantage of this free shredding service to dispose of documents typically used by identity thieves to commit fraud: old bills and receipts, junk mail, account statements and unused pre-approved offers for credit. Food donations will be accepted at this time, so please bring non-perishable foods to help The Food Bank of Manatee.
Saturday April 25th, 2026
9 am-12 pm
Lakewood Ranch Town Hall
8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.
Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
- The shred truck may fill to capacity before noon. Once it is full, we will no longer be able to accept any more boxes/documents. Please respect a 2-box maximum.
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Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
It's easy to take place in the largest one-day food collection event in the United States.
Stamp out Hunger Food Drive is the collection of non-perishable food items by local postal carriers, for The Food Bank of Manatee to combat hunger.
May 9th
Participating post offices in partnership with The Food Bank of Manatee:
- Parrish
- Palmetto
- Ellenton
- Bradenton Beach
- Myakka
To participate, simply leave a bag of non-perishable food items next to your mailbox before your letter carrier arrives on the day of the event. Your letter carrier will collect the donations and deliver them to the local post office where they will be collected by The Food Bank of Manatee.
If you would like to volunteer to load/unload donations at any of these locations, click the links below:
Volunteer at the Postal Workers Food Drive-Ellenton
https://bttr.im/az2jo
Volunteer at the Postal Workers Food Drive-Palmetto
https://bttr.im/p6t4q
Volunteer at the Postal Workers Food Drive-Parrish
https://bttr.im/qolly
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SAVE THE DATE
🌸PETALS & PROSECCO 🌸
MAY 14TH, 2026
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Selby Foundation Nutrition Services Center
Meals on Wheels PLUS
Join us for an uplifting evening at Petals & Prosecco, a special event supporting The Food Bank of Manatee and Meals on Wheels PLUS. Enjoy beautiful floral creations, sparkling refreshments, and great company—all while helping nourish neighbors in need.
Your participation makes a real impact in our community. Cheers to giving back! 🥂
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The Food Bank of Manatee
The Lake Club Woman's Giving Circle
Packing Mobile Produce
The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle recently brought energy and enthusiasm to The Food Bank of Manatee, one of the PLUS programs of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, as they packed fresh fruits and vegetables for our Mobile Produce Pantry.
Each month, Mobile Produce delivers a boost of nutritious produce to Manatee County children and families—helping them enjoy healthier, more balanced diets. The Lake Club Woman's Giving Circle jumped right in, packing produce that will brighten the day of hundreds of local residents. Their teamwork shows just how much impact a few hours of volunteering can make.
Organizations of all kinds can get involved! Whether it’s a corporate team, a neighborhood group, or a club looking to give back, The Food Bank of Manatee offers hands-on volunteer opportunities that directly support people in our community.
Gather your group, roll up your sleeves, and help make a difference—one produce bag at a time!
Learn more about our Mobile Produce Pantry.
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The Food Bank of Manatee provides nutritional assistance and caring, supportive services to individuals in need throughout Manatee County by distributing food through local non-profit partner agencies and food pantries, and through direct services to the community.
FIND FOOD | DONATE FOOD | VOLUNTEER | FOOD DRIVES
| | | Photo from left to right- Mike Jackson, Deputy District Director for Congressman Buchanan, Tara Pulton, Representative for Congressman Buchanan, Maribeth Phillips President & CEO Meals on Wheels PLUS, and Roger L., Home-delivered Meals Volunteer | |
Home-delivered Meals
March for Meals and the Power of Community
March for Meals is celebrated annually by Meals on Wheels PLUS to honor the historic date in March of 1972 when legislation amending the Older Americans Act was signed to create a national nutrition program for adults aged 60 and older. This landmark law launched what is now the Meals on Wheels network, serving more than 2.4 million seniors each year.
Meals on Wheels PLUS marks this celebration by hosting March for Meals with local community leaders, who accompany our Home‑delivered Meals volunteers. These ride‑a-longs help highlight the importance of senior nutrition, social connection, and community support.
We were thrilled to have many leaders from the community join us to deliver meals this year. Community leaders spent time learning about our programs, meeting staff and volunteers, and gained a firsthand understanding of the impact meal deliveries have on local seniors. The participation of Community leaders highlighted the importance of partnerships and helped raise awareness for the vital services Meals on Wheels PLUS provides throughout the county.
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Our Home-delivered Meals program provides nutritious meals for those in need in our community. All Home-delivered Meals are approved by a registered dietitian, and pureed meals are also available for individuals who have special needs.
REGISTER | PRODUCE ON WHEELS | PET PROGRAM | VOLUNTEER
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Daybreak Adult Day Center
Learning about Florida Birds at Daybreak Adult Day Center
Clients at the Daybreak Adult Day Center recently enjoyed a lively and educational presentation from the President of the Manatee Audubon Society. The session focused on the rich variety of birds that can be seen throughout Florida and offered an accessible introduction to birdwatching.
Participants learned how to identify common local species—such as shorebirds, wading birds, and backyard visitors—by observing their size, shape, colors, and unique behaviors. The presenter also shared the benefits of birdwatching, including relaxation, mindfulness, and the joy of connecting with nature right in our own community.
Clients were fully engaged throughout the presentation, asking many thoughtful questions about the birds they’ve spotted in the area. They especially enjoyed the colorful pictures, fun facts, and examples of species they might encounter on daily walks, in the garden at Daybreak Adult Day Center, or even outside their windows.
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At Daybreak Adult Day Center, we provide a safe, secure environment with social, and therapeutic activities designed to meet the needs of older adults who live at home with a loved one but cannot be left alone while their caregiver works or attends to other responsibilities.
EVENT CALENDAR | REGISTER | VOLUNTEER | DONATE
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Friendship Dining Centers
St. Patrick's Day Shamrocks & Smiles
At our Friendship Dining Centers, we celebrate the moments that give people a chance to connect, enjoy one another’s company, and take part in something joyful.
Our Friendship Dining clients celebrated St. Patrick's Day by making handmade shamrocks and cheerful gnomes. It was a heartwarming reminder that the best celebrations are the ones spent together.
Here’s to creativity, camaraderie, and the luck of the Irish at Friendship Dining. May the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day stay with us all year long!
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The Friendship Dining Program is for people over 60 who would like to make new friends, participate in fun activities, and hear from local experts on a variety of topics as well as enjoy a nutritious meal.
EVENT CALENDAR | REGISTER | VOLUNTEER
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Bob N. Honoring his 90th Birthday with Donations to Meals on Wheels PLUS
This month, we proudly shine our Donor Spotlight on Bob N., a dedicated supporter with a heart for giving. In celebration of his birthday, Bob has chosen to make a meaningful impact by asking his friends and family to donate to Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee in lieu of traditional birthday gifts.
Bob’s generosity doesn’t stop there—he has pledged to personally match every gift made in his honor. His inspiring challenge not only doubles the impact of each donation but also helps ensure that more seniors in our community receive the nutritious meals, safety checks, and support they rely on every day.
We are deeply grateful for Bob’s compassion and leadership. His birthday wish is creating real change, one meal—and one act of kindness—at a time.
Thank you, Bob, for celebrating your special day by helping others feel cared for and remembered. Your generosity truly makes a difference. Donate to make a Difference.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Patricia N. and Friends are helping us get ready for Empty Bowls with a Bowl Painting Party
Gearing up for our Empty Bowls event in November starts well before fall arrives—and what better way to begin than with a burst of creativity and community spirit. In March, Patricia N. and friends hosted a lively Bowl Painting Party, bringing neighbors together for a morning of color, conversation, and purpose.
These Bowl Painting Parties are a joyful tradition and an important part of preparing for one of Meals on Wheels PLUS’s most cherished annual events. Each hand‑painted bowl becomes a meaningful symbol of the Empty Bowls mission: raising awareness of hunger and supporting vital programs that nourish individuals and families in our community.
Thank you to Patricia and everyone who picked up a paintbrush to support this wonderful cause. What a fun and heartfelt way to make a difference—one bowl at a time!
If you would like to participate in a Bowl Painting Party, Contact Us Today.
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Esplanade Lakewood Ranch Food Drive for the Entire Month of April
This April, the spirit of generosity is shining bright across Esplanade Lakewood Ranch as neighbors come together to support families and pets in need. Throughout the entire month, residents are invited to participate in the Esplanade LWR Food Drive, a community-wide effort to collect nonperishable food items and pet food that will be donated to The Food Bank of Manatee.
Food insecurities affect families every day, and community-led drives like this provide essential support to The Food Bank of Manatee who depend on donations from the community. The Esplanade LWR community has always been known for compassion and connection, and this month's food drive is another wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
If you would like to hold a food drive, click to learn more and register online. Food Drive - Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee.
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