Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, Inc.

☀️We have our first Food4Families/Sack Summer Hunger food distributions today! ☀️With 15,000 meals ready to go out, we know it’s going to be a busy day! Thank you to all our donors and volunteers who have given to make this important work possible! 😊

🥫If you are in need of food assistance, click here for distribution times and locations:https://mealsonwheelsplus.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Food4Families-Summer-Distribution-Final.pdf

❤️If you would like to donate to support this lifesaving work for the next 8 weeks of summer break, click here to donate: https://securepayment.link/mealsonwheelsplus/

Together,

Thank you Service Club of Manatee County for your amazing support of our Food4Families/Sack Summer Hunger program! We are so grateful for your generous gift that will provide approximately 7,700 meals to food insecure children and families this summer! This work isn’t possible without you! ❤️🥰

Grateful for the support and advocacy of the Bishop-Parker Foundation as we work to feed those in need in our community.

Support Our Neighbors: Give Back with The Food Bank of Manatee & Meals on Wheels PLUS

Summer should be a time of sunshine and relaxation—but for many families in Manatee County, it’s one of the hardest seasons of the year. With school out, children lose access to regular meals, and demand for food assistance rises—just as donations tend to slow down.

That’s why now is the perfect time to 📣ORGANIZE A FOOD DRIVE📣!!

👉 Why It Matters
The Food Bank of Manatee and Meals on Wheels PLUS work tirelessly to fight hunger and support vulnerable neighbors—seniors, families, and children who rely on consistent access to nutritious food. During the summer months, we face increased need with fewer resources.

🫵How You Can Help: Organize a Food Drive!
Hosting a food drive is one of the simplest and most impactful ways to support your community. Whether at your office, school, place of worship, or neighborhood, every contribution makes a real difference.

Here’s how to get started:
1. Choose a Location & Dates
Pick an easy-to-access spot and set a clear timeframe (1–2 weeks works great!).

2. Spread the Word
Share through social media, email, and flyers. Let people know why their support is needed now.

3. Focus on Most-needed Items
Common high-demand donations include:
📣Canned proteins (tuna, chicken)
📣Peanut butter
📣Shelf-stable milk
📣Rice and pasta
📣Canned fruits and vegetables

4. Make It Easy to Give
Provide clear drop-off instructions and consider adding an option for monetary donations.

5. Deliver the Impact
Coordinate with The Food Bank of Manatee or Meals on Wheels PLUS for drop-off or pickup.

💛 Be Part of the Solution
When you organize a food drive, you’re not just collecting items—you’re creating hope, stability, and nourishment for people right in your community.
REGISTER ONLINE
https://mealsonwheelsplus.org/food-bank-of-manatee/food-drive/

Help Fight Summer Hunger 💙

When school is out, many Manatee County children worry about where their next meal will come from. That’s why The Food Bank of Manatee-Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee through its Food4Families (Sack Summer Hunger) program, provides weekend meal packs with enough food for a family of five to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Without school nutrition programs, many families struggle to put food on the table—but together, we can help.

🎯 Our goal this summer: 200,000 meals for families in need

You can make a difference by donating to The Food Bank of Manatee and Meals on Wheels PLUS.

💛 Every gift helps fight hunger this summer.
https://securepayment.link/mealsonwheelsplus/

June is National Hunger Awareness Month — and in Manatee County, the need is real.

At The Food Bank of Manatee and Meals on Wheels PLUS, we see firsthand how hunger impacts our neighbors every day. As the largest hunger-relief organization in Manatee County, our mission is simple but powerful: ensure that no one in our community goes hungry.

But we can’t do it alone.

Every meal we provide, every pantry we stock, and every meal we deliver is made possible because the compassion of people like you. Right now, families, seniors, and children across our community are struggling to put food on the table — and your support can make an immediate difference.

💚Join us this Hunger Awareness Month and help “Fill a Plate.” 💚
Your donation helps:

🌟Stock local food pantries
🌟Deliver nutritious meals to homebound seniors
🌟Support children and families facing food insecurity
🌟Provide hope and stability to neighbors in need

Just $10 can help provide 7 meals to those who need it most. Together, we can turn awareness into action — and compassion into full plates.

👉 Donate today and help fill a plate: https://securepayment.link/mealsonwheelsplus/
Because no one in Manatee County should have to wonder where their next meal will come from.

Thank you NEXTGEN Family Magazine for sharing these great pics from our Tropical Nights: In the Wild West Event. What a fun night, with everyone getting in the spirit. 🤠

🥣 Get “Cereal”-ously Generous This Summer! ☀️

We’re turning up the crunch of kindness with our “Cereal”-ously Summer Program — and you’re invited to help us make a big difference, one box at a time!

This summer, we’re collecting cereal donations, because while school may be out, hunger doesn’t take a vacation—and for many families, cereal is a staple in the pantry.

✨ Why cereal?
It’s quick, kid-friendly, shelf-stable, and brings a little comfort and normalcy to busy mornings. Plus, who doesn’t love that first spoonful of crunchy goodness?

💛 How you can help:

Donate a box (or ten!) of cereal
Drop it off at Meals on Wheels PLUS 811 23rd Ave East, Bradenton, FL 34208
Spread the word to friends, family, and neighbors.

🎉 Let’s make it fun!
Build a cereal tower. Challenge your coworkers. Snap a pic of your donation haul and share it with us. Let’s see how high we can stack our generosity this summer!

Together, we can ensure local families start their day with something nourishing—and a reminder that their community cares.
👉 Join us and help make this summer "cereal-ously" amazing for everyone!
Drop off your donations at:
Meals on Wheels PLUS
811 23rd Ave East, Bradenton, FL 34208

🌎 World Hunger Day — May 28, 2026

The Food Bank of Manatee & Meals on Wheels PLUS

Today, on World Hunger Day, we pause to recognize a challenge that affects millions—right here in our own community and across the globe. Hunger doesn’t always look the way we expect. It can be a senior choosing between food and medication, a family stretching one meal into many, or a child going to bed without enough to eat.

At The Food Bank of Manatee and Meals on Wheels PLUS, we see both the need—and the incredible power of community—every single day.

On this World Hunger Day, you can help:

Donate: Every dollar helps provide nutritious food to those who need it most.
https://securepayment.link/mealsonwheelsplus/
Volunteer: Your time and heart can change lives.
https://mealsonwheelsplus.org/volunteering/
Advocate: Help raise awareness that hunger exists—and that solutions are possible.

Together, we can build a stronger, healthier Manatee County where no one has to wonder where their next meal will come from.
Because everyone deserves access to nourishing food—and the chance to thrive.

https://mealsonwheelsplus.org/

Make a Difference in Your Community—Volunteer Today!

At Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, our volunteers are truly the heart of everything we do. Every meal delivered, every family supported, and every neighbor cared for is made possible by people just like you.

We’re currently looking for caring, dedicated volunteers:
Home-Delivery Drivers – Help bring nutritious meals and a friendly smile to homebound seniors (9:30am-2:00pm)
Car Loaders – Assist in organizing and loading meals for delivery routes (9:30am-10:30am)
Warehouse Assistants (8:00am-9:30am) & Support (11:30am-1:30pm)– Keep our operations running smoothly behind the scenes.

Whether you have a few hours a week or more to give, your time can change lives right here in Manatee County.

Ready to get involved? Apply online today and help us continue nourishing our neighbors in need.
👉 Volunteer now: https://mealsonwheelsplus.org/volunteering/