Food Bank of Manatee

Thanksgiving Meal Distribution

Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee’s PLUS program, The Food Bank of Manatee, will be distributing Thanksgiving Dinners with all the fixings to 500 families to prepare at home. The Thanksgiving Meal Distribution will take place on Monday, November 20th from 4pm-6pm at Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, 811 23rd Ave. East, Bradenton, FL 34208. Quantities are limited and are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on this free Thanksgiving Food Distribution, click here.

Empty Bowls 2023 A “SOUPER” SUCCESS!

Our thanks to all who attended and supported our 2023 Empty Bowls event - the largest and most successful Empty Bowls event to date! In our 23rd year, the event featured 17 local restaurants providing soup, giving the 400+ guests who attended many delicious options! Our thanks to the following EVENT SPONSORS and SUPPORTERS who made the event a success:

Thanks to our SOUP VENDORS:

Watch this cool video about the event made by Tyler while he was Out & About!

Friendship Dining Centers

We currently have three Friendship Dining Center locations open throughout Manatee County. Currently, programs are being hosted in 34207, 34208, and 34251. If you or someone you know is interested in joining a community-wide program that offers nutrition, recreation, and fun activities like armchair travel and bingo, our Friendship Dining Center locations are the perfect place to make new friends and stay active!

For more information on our Friendship Dining Center programs, please call 941-747-4655 or visit www.MealsOnWheelsPLUS.org

The Friendship Dining Program, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, 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. Friendship Dining Centers are conveniently located in Manatee County. Participants enjoy the following services provided at these centers:

Activities including films, art, and music
Holiday celebrations
Card games, bingo, creative projects, and more

For more information about Friendship Dining Centers, please click here.

Home-delivered Meals

We often say that we are “More than Meals” but a recent communication from a local doctor confirmed this. A client with limited mobility slid out of their wheelchair and was stranded on the floor overnight. When our Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee volunteer arrived the next day, they heard the client call out for help and used a neighbor’s phone to call 9-1-1. The doctor wrote to thank us for being there and said, “Thankfully the client is fine, in large part due to the kindness of the Meals on Wheels PLUS volunteer that assisted them.” This story, and many more like it, showcase that through this life-saving work we are indeed, More than Meals.

The Home-delivered Meals

program, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, provides nutritious Home-delivered 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. Nutritious Home-delivered Meals may be available for those who meet one or more of the following criteria:

Live in Manatee County, Florida
60+ years of age
Homebound, socially isolated
Have difficulty preparing meals or shopping for yourself
Unable to attend a congregate nutrition site
Lack funds to purchase nutritious food

Click here for more information about our Home-delivered Meals program.

YES! I WANT TO DONATE TO HELP SENIORS IN NEED!

Current & Upcoming Events

More information about our upcoming events can be found here.

Daybreak Celebrates Octoberfest

During the month of October, clients at Daybreak Adult Day Center enjoyed a spirited Octoberfest celebration with pretzels and nonalcoholic drinks. Every month, we like to add a seasonal celebration or two to our other fun-filled calendar activities.

At Daybreak Adult Day Center, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, we provide a safe, secure environment with social, recreational, 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.

Daybreak Adult Day Center is the only licensed and federally funded Adult Day Center in Manatee County, providing an affordable and safe environment for our clients to thrive. Ongoing, year-round programs are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm with most clients attending between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm. For more information about Daybreak Adult Day Center, please click here.

Donor Spotlight: Ian Black Realty

The team at Ian Black Realty has stepped up once again to generously sponsor our Thanksgiving Home-delivered Meal totes. These special insulated coolers will keep our client’s Thanksgiving meals at just the right temperature during transport. They are also reusable, making them very handy for our clients! Thank you to Jag Grewal and the Ian Black Realty Team for their amazing support!

Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee has counted on the financial support of our generous donors since we first opened our doors in 1972. With our mission to assist individuals to live independently by providing nutrition and caring, supportive services at the forefront of our daily work, thousands upon thousands of people have received help and hope when they needed it most.

As we look to the future, we continue to count on the philanthropic support of our community to meet the ever-growing needs in our community. Planned Giving is a way to leave a legacy to benefit the many clients who receive services from our PLUS programs: Home-delivered Meals, The Food Bank of Manatee, Daybreak Adult Day Center, and Friendship Dining Centers. Click here for more information about leaving a legacy gift in support of our mission.

Community Spotlight: Aqua Plumbing

Our thanks to Aqua Plumbing for all their support of the mission of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. For several years, Aqua Plumbing has provided significant financial support to advance our critical and life-saving work in Manatee County. Aqua Plumbing also recently hosted a lunch at Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee for other area nonprofit organizations. Thank you, Aqua Plumbing, for all you do for our community!.

Volunteer Spotlight: Empty Bowls

Thank you to the many volunteers who assisted with set-up, serving, and clean-up at the 23rd Annual Empty Bowls event held on Lakewood Ranch Main Street on Friday, November 3rd. Without the support and hard-work of these amazing volunteers, we would not have been able to provide such a wonderful experience for all our guests!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A VOLUNTEER!

Air Experts Food Drive

Air Experts is hosting a food drive to benefit The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. If you are interested in learning more, please call Air Experts located in Bradenton, Florida or visit their social media pages!

Food Distribution Programs | November 2023

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.

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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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