News
Good Deeds
Manatee Memorial Hospital Thrift Shop volunteers and Manager Robin Cox (right) donated $205 to The Food Bank of Manatee from their spare change collection.
Congratulations Pat Anderson!
Pat Anderson, Client File Specialist at Meals on Wheels PLUS celebrated 20 years of service, and her accomplishment was recognized with a plaque and commemorative pin. Pictured: Ellen Campbell, President and CEO; Pat Anderson; and Board Chair Virginia Orenstein.
Good Deeds: Water’s Edge of Bradenton
Water’s Edge of Bradenton hosted a fashion show and luncheon to benefit Senior Wheels, a member-based program that provides safe and reliable transportation to Manatee County seniors. Pictured: Jeanne Brantley from Water’s Edge presents a check for $1840 to Senior Wheels Transportation Director, Ray Cox.
Thank you to Publix
As part of its Food for All campaign, Publix Store Manager Kim Taylor and Regional Manager Tim Henning present a check for $29,875 to Meals on Wheels PLUS for The Food Bank of Manatee. Pictured L-R: Blane Turpin, Director of Client Programs; Cindy Sloan, Food Bank Director; Kim Taylor; Ellen Campbell, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS; and Tim Henning.
Thank you to the Wal-Mart Foundation
The Food Bank of Manatee received a brand new refrigerated truck from The Walmart Foundation, as a partner of Feeding America. The truck enables The Food Bank to pick up and deliver more fresh and frozen foods donated from area retail stores. This food is then distributed to local soup kitchens, food pantries, and social service agencies serving our neighbors in need. Thank you to The Walmart Foundation for their generosity! Check out the video taken by The Bradenton Herald: Refrigerated Truck Video.
Mayors for Meals
Thank you to our local mayors who delivered meals to the homebound as part of "Mayors for Meals" day, a national effort to increase awareness of the needs of our seniors. L-R: Holmes Beach Deputy Mayor Sandy Haas-Martens, Anna Maria Mayor Michael Selby, Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant.
First Bank Good Deeds
Anne Lee, (right) Retail Banking President of First Bank presents Ellen Campbell, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee a check for $5,000. With this donation First Bank will once again be an annual Golden Forks Sponsor of Meals on Wheels PLUS.
Bridge Street Merchants Good Deeds
The Bridge Street Merchants of Bradenton Beach held a holiday celebration and boat parade in December benefiting The Food Bank of Manatee. Bridge Street Merchant Association members Caryn Hodge (left) and Jo Ann Meilner (right) present a check for $400 to Food Bank development director, Kristen Theisen (center).
The Bradenton Eagles Good Deeds
The Bradenton Eagles recently donated $1,690 to Daybreak Adult Day Services. Beverly Brooks and Sandy Laadd from the Bradenton Eagles present a check to Meals on Wheels PLUS Vice President of Development Kristen Theisen and Daybreak Director Roxy Carson. Pictured: Beverly Brooks, Kristen Theisen, Sandy Laadd, and Roxy Carson.
BB&T GOOD DEEDS
Bradenton BB&T Insurance and Banking divisions donate $8, 523.17 to The Food Bank of Manatee. Pictured L to R, back row: Jay Salmon, Mike Moschella, Jonathan Schneider, John Laurie, and Debbie Holt from BB&T, and Haskell Gates of The Food Bank of Manatee. Front Row: Kristen Theisen and Ellen Campbell of The Food Bank of Manatee, with Darby Regis of BB&T, and Cindy Sloan of The Food Bank of Manatee.
NEW OVENS FOR MEALS ON WHEELS PLUS!
Thanks to our friends at the United Way of Manatee and the Manatee Community Foundation for joining forces and providing over $15,000 in emergency funds for the purchase of two desperately needed convection ovens. Preparing 4,000 meals each week will take its toll on the equipment! Pictured L-R: Cassandra Holmes of the Manatee Community Foundation, Ellen Campbell of Meals on Wheels PLUS, and Jerry Koontz of the United Way of Manatee.
CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL RAISES $1900 +
Water's Edge Retirement Living held their annual Chocolate Festival at Renaissance on 9th to benefit Senior Wheels, a door-to-door transportation program for qualified seniors. Guests visited with senior service and local businesses while collecting chocolate samples from each vendor.
BJ’S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION GIVES $15,000 TO THE FOOD BANK OF MANATEE
BJ’s Charitable Foundation recently awarded a grant to The Food Bank of Manatee for its Baby Basket program. The funds will be used to purchase baby food, formula, cereal, and other infant care essentials for qualifying families in need. Pictured: Laura Ferrario of BJ's with Cindy Sloan, Food Bank director.
A Midsummer’s Night Rock & Roll Party raises food and funds for The Food Bank of Manatee.
Pictured: Al Roach, owner of 20 Minutes to Fitness, presents a check for The Food Bank of Manatee to Board President, Virginia Orenstein. Roach, also on the Board for Meals on Wheels PLUS and The Food Bank of Manatee, organized a recent fundraiser at The Cabaret in Lakewood Ranch, which resulted in $1700 and 140 pounds of food.
9 MILLION MEALS SERVED CELEBRATION DRAWS BIG CROWD
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee celebrated the delivery of 9 Million Meals Served on Tuesday, June 8, 2010. Reverend Kenneth Baar, accompanied by Meals on Wheels PLUS President/CEO Ellen Campbell and local media, made the special delivery of a hot, nutritious meal to a local home-bound senior. Reverend Barr is the former Board Chair of Meals on Wheels PLUS, serving from 1972-1992.
Following the delivery, Meals on Wheels PLUS hosted a luncheon celebration at the main office of 811 23rd Avenue East in Bradenton. Many guests joined the national pledge drive to End Senior Hunger by 2020. According to a research study by the Meals on Wheels Association of America, there are more than 6 million seniors facing hunger. Their goal is to have 6 million people from across the nation join them in this national pledge. Taking the pledge means committing to leading a fund drive, volunteering, making a donation, or generating awareness of the problem.
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee Announces New Executive Board - CLICK HERE TO READ
Guest Editorial by Ellen Campbell - President/CEO, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee - (Appeared in the Bradenton Herald on Sunday, February 7, 2010) CLICK HERE TO READ
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee Meets the Gold Standard for Meals On Wheels Programs Nationwide Bradenton, FL, February, 2010 – Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) recently declared Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee an Exemplary MOWAA Magnet Accredited program. Similar to the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) seal of approval, Exemplary MOWAA Magnet Accreditation is a clear indication that a local senior nutrition program operates according to the highest standards for program safety, program quality and program efficiency.
“We continually strive to improve our meals and our service to the community,” said Ellen Campbell, CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. “Receiving Exemplary MOWAA Magnet Accreditation is recognition of that and we are honored to be given this high level seal of approval for ourselves and the community we serve.” MOWAA Magnet Accreditation uses criteria designed to measure the program’s performance according to a set of universal performance standards. The rigorous accreditation process examines the program’s performance in several key areas, including resource development, operations management, meal and nutrition services, fiscal management, governance, and others. To receive Exemplary Accreditation means that the program has gone above and beyond the expectations of the MOWAA Accreditation Program.
“We are proud to have Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee as a Member of our national association,” said Enid Borden, President and CEO of MOWAA.“Achieving Exemplary MOWAA Magnet Accreditation should assure all of the members of the community that this program is a program they can trust.”
Spring 2011 newsletter link (PDF)
2009 Archived News Stories (PDF)
Feinstein Challenge - $1 million Giveaway to Fight Hunger!
March 2, 2009 Bradenton, FL
MEALS ON WHEELS PLUS WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS
BRADENTON, FL, February 26, 2009
RETIRED & SENIOR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Bradenton, FL February 9, 2009
THE FOOD BANK OF MANATEE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
Bradenton, Florida, February 6, 2009
A Food Bank of Manatee volunteer sorts through donations collected from the First Bank holiday food drive.
Bradenton, FL January 12, 2009
An Emergency Care package prepared by The Food Bank of Manatee includes books for the toddlers in need.
Bradenton, FL. January 9, 2009
2008 Archived News Stories (PDF)