Support IS VITAL TO FEED
CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND ISOLATED SENIORS in MANATEE COUNTY

BRADENTON, FL  March 18, 2020 – Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee is working to feed food-insecure residents
of Manatee County as many businesses, community centers, and schools close amid
the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While Friendship Dining Centers, the Enrichment
Center, and Daybreak Adult Day Center, all programs of Meals on Wheels PLUS of
Manatee, suspended programming due to recommendations regarding group
gatherings from the Centers for Disease Control, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee
continues home-delivery of meals to home-bound seniors and disabled residents
in Manatee County to ensure they receive proper nutrition. Volunteers and staff
are taking extra precautions to safeguard clients and themselves.

Through The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, emergency relief is also being provided to children
and families in the wake of COVID-19.  In
partnership with the School District of Manatee County, The Food Bank of
Manatee is providing bags of food to feed a family of five breakfast, lunch,
and dinner for the weekend.  The food
will be distributed on Fridays in conjunction with the school district’s Food
and Mobile Feeding Buses that service seven locations throughout Manatee
County.  In addition, The Food Bank of
Manatee is providing increased services to food pantries and partner agencies
within the county to help meet the demand for essential nutrition.

Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee is in need of:

• Non-perishable food items, specifically canned meats, canned fruits,
  peanut butter, and boxes of cereal. Donations can be delivered to 811 23^rd
  Ave. East, Bradenton, Florida. 
• Unopened packages of toilet paper, paper towels, disinfecting wipes, and
  hand sanitizer to provide to home-bound and disabled residents as the supply of
  these items at the stores are depleted.  Donations
  can be delivered to 811 23^rd Ave. East, Bradenton, Florida. 
• Monetary donations to cover operational and program expenses related to
  increased needs due to COVID-19. The Steven and Natalee Herrig Family
  Foundation has offered a $50,000 $1: $1 match to assist in providing critical
  nutrition and supportive services to those in need in our community.  Donations can be made online at MealsOnWheelsPLUS.org/donate
  or by mail to 811 23^rd Ave. East, Bradenton, Florida. 

“Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee has always offered
so much more than a meal to members of our community,” said Maribeth Phillips,
President & CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. “During this exceptional,
challenging time we are a literal lifeline – providing critical nutrition and
care to those who are hungry and isolated. We need the support of our community
to meet the needs that are increasing daily related to this pandemic.”

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About Meals on Wheels PLUS of
Manatee

While initially founded in 1972, with the purpose of providing
hot, nutritious meals to the elderly and disabled residents of Manatee County,
Meals on Wheels of Manatee, Inc. became so much more. The organization grew
over the years in response to community needs, and the “PLUS” was eventually
added to the name as a way of representing the many other services offered. The
mission of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee is to assist individuals to live
independently by providing nutrition and caring, supportive services. Meals on
Wheels PLUS of Manatee offers comprehensive care and essential
programs that assist people to live independently. While services include
delivering hot, nutritious meals to the elderly and disabled, other essential programs
include: The Food Bank of Manatee, Daybreak Adult Day Center, The Enrichment
Center at Renaissance on 9^th, and Friendship Dining.

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