DRIVERS NEEDED TO DELIVER MEALS IN MANATEE COUNTY

Bradenton, Florida, May 1, 2008 - Meals on Wheels PLUS is in desperate need of volunteers to deliver hot, nutritious meals to homebound seniors in Manatee County.  At this time, our northern volunteers have returned home, leaving many delivery routes vacant until they come back in the fall.  The time requirement for delivering meals in approximately 1 to 1-1/2 hours, one day per week and the reward is immeasurable!  Meals are prepared at the Meals on Wheels PLUS kitchen and delivered by volunteers between 11am and 1pm daily.

Businesses are encouraged to consider an employee lunch-hour delivery program.  Clubs, professional groups, and individuals are all welcome. If you are interested in helping, please call Carol Schechterle at 941-747-4655

MANATEE RESIDENTS INVITED TO ‘STAMP OUT HUNGER’

Bradenton, Florida,  April 25, 2008 -  The Food Bank of Manatee needs volunteers on Saturday, May 10^th to assist with the National Association of Letter Carriers “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive.  In all 50 states throughout the country, letter carriers will collect non-perishable food donations as they deliver their mail routes.  This annual drive is a major source of food for the Food Bank of Manatee, which is the only certified food bank in all of Manatee County.

“As the largest one-day food drive in the country, we depend on the food it generates for our community,” says Joe Mercado, Director of The Food Bank of Manatee.  “The donations we receive are used to supply over 75 local organizations with items for needy families.  We can definitely use all the help we can get – in donations of non-perishable items to the food drive, and in volunteers.”

Volunteers are needed to assist letter carriers with the transfer of the non-perishable goods from area post offices to the Food Bank, and to sort food at the Food Bank.  Help is needed at the post office locations of Bradenton Beach, Braden River, Ellenton, Palmetto, and Parrish, between 11am and 4pm.  Schools, businesses, and service organizations are encouraged to make this food drive a group project.  Anyone interested in volunteering can call 747-FOOD for specific location information and available time slots.

THE FOOD BANK OF MANATEE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

Bradenton, Florida. April 18, 2008  - Volunteers are needed at The Food Bank of Manatee to help with daily operations, including food basket assembly, food sorting, food basket distribution, and produce bagging. The work load at The Food Bank is heavier than ever, as the majority of volunteers are leaving town for the summer.  Volunteers are welcome Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. Volunteers should be able to lift boxes.  Business and professional groups are welcome.

The Food Bank of Manatee distributed over one million pounds of food last year alone and serves all areas of Manatee County. Anyone interested in helping can call Cindy Sloan at 941-747-4655.

CAMPBELL SOUP AND PUBLIX SUPERMARKETS HELP “STUFF THE TRUCK”

Bradenton, Florida, April 8, 2008 -  Campbell Soup Company and Publix Supermarkets are sponsoring a “Stuff the Truck” event on Saturday, May 3^rd from 10am until 3pm to benefit The Food Bank of Manatee.  Five area Publix Supermarkets will be participating in this family-friendly promotion, hosting a truck or van from The Food Bank of Manatee to encourage shoppers to help needy families with the donation of Campbell Soup.  The Food Bank of Manatee has had increased requests for food to feed children and families in need, due to job loss or other economic hardships.  This one-day event can help put food on the table of Manatee families who otherwise might not eat.

 “We are so thankful for the support of Publix Supermarkets and Campbell Soup on this event,” said Joe Mercado, Director of The Food Bank of Manatee.  “Our requests for food keep increasing, especially with the rising food and gas prices, so continued donations are greatly appreciated.  We are looking for as many people as possible to come out to one of the Publix stores for this event, where they can have fun and donate to a good cause at the same time.” 

Managers and staff of Publix Supermarkets helped to create the event with local Campbell Soup representative Courtney Piana.  Donations of all non-perishable goods are encouraged, and Publix will be featuring sales on Campbell Soup products for the event, which are shelf-stable and can provide important nutrients.  Thanks to the generosity of Starbucks and Panera Bread, shoppers who donate items in the morning will be treated to coffee and pastries at select locations.  Hot dogs will also be available at the stores, as well as raffles for various prizes, and special appearances by the Campbell Soup Kids.  Participating Publix stores include locations at 8330 Market Street, 1755 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, 7310 Manatee Avenue West, 11250 E State Road 70, and 2875 University Parkway in Sarasota.

The Food Bank of Manatee collects and distributes more than 1 million pounds of food a year to over 70 local service agencies, but it is not enough to satisfy the needs of local families.  Schools, businesses, and service organizations are encouraged to hold food drives all throughout the year.  Aside from a physical drive, an online “virtual food drive” is a fun option to shop for food on the internet.  For more information, call Joe Mercado at 747-FOOD or go to www.foodbankofmanatee.org.

MANATEE BOYS ‘SCOUTING FOR FOOD’

Bradenton, Florida, April 1, 2008 -  The Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of Manatee will be holding their annual “Scouting for Food” drive to benefit The Food Bank of Manatee on Monday, April 12, 2008.  This Saturday, April 5^th, area scouts will distribute empty donation bags to residents throughout Manatee County.  On April 12^th, participating residents are asked to leave the food donations in the bags at their door for the scouts to collect.  In 2007, over 250 scouts participated in the drive, which resulted in a total contribution of 6,606 pounds of food to the Food Bank of Manatee.  This year the scouts hope to break their record and help even more children and families in need.  The food drive, part of a national Boy Scouts of America service project, only takes one week of collection and has been going on locally for over 10 years to benefit our needy families and individuals.

 “The Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and troop leaders who head up this food drive are a true example of the good that people can do together,” said Joe Mercado, Director of Community & Support Services for Meals on Wheels PLUS, which operates The Food Bank of Manatee.  “In today’s tough economy, the Food Bank is in need of food donations more than ever, and we appreciate the efforts of the Scouts and all those who donated to this cause.” 

YARN NEEDED

Bradenton, Florida, March 26, 2008  – Meals on Wheels PLUS is in need of yarn donations for volunteers who knit or crochet lap robes and slippers for needy seniors.

Any and all yarn is appreciated.

Donations can be dropped off at 811 23^rd Avenue East, Bradenton, or picked up by Meals on Wheels PLUS.  Please call Carol at 747-4655 for further information.

For additional information about this or any other Meals on Wheels PLUS program, please call 747-4655 or go to www.mealsonwheelsplus.org.

SENIOR ENRICHMENT CENTER RECEIVES STATE FUNDING

Bradenton, Florida, March 10, 2008 -  The Florida Department of Elder Affairs announced on Friday, March 7 that it has selected the Senior Enrichment Center to receive $2,000,000 in funding allocated for centers around the state.  The Senior Enrichment Center, operated by Meals on Wheels PLUS, is a project that has been in the works for the past five years.  Despite Manatee County’s large senior population, there was not a dedicated resource center for this segment of the population until Meals on Wheels PLUS took on the challenge of providing such a center. 

“We are just thrilled,” said Meals on Wheels PLUS President/CEO Ellen Campbell, “My staff and I have worked so hard to bring the Senior Enrichment Center to life, and now the state funding will bring us so much closer to finishing the project and offering our seniors the kind of facility they can truly enjoy.”  The Center has been offering some programs to its members since October of 2007, but the options have been limited due to funding shortfalls that prevented additional equipment purchases. 

Even with the state funding, the $6.5 million capital campaign will not be completely fulfilled, with $700,000 still left to raise.  The County, City and the Downtown Development Authority, in addition to numerous individual and corporate donors, Benderson Development, a number of community foundations and organizations have supported the project, including the Selby Foundation and the Kiwanis Club of Bradenton Foundation.  Meals on Wheels PLUS is hopeful that other organizations and foundations will step forward to help complete the campaign for the Senior Enrichment Center, so that Manatee seniors can finally have all the services and programs initially planned.

MEALS ON WHEELS PLUS TO HOST MAYORS FOR MEALS DAY ON MARCH 19, 2008

Bradenton, Florida, March 7, 2008  – Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee announced today that they will be holding Mayors For Meals Day as a part of their March For Meals campaign. Mayor Wayne Poston of Bradenton, Mayor Larry Bustle of Palmetto, Deputy Mayor John Quam of Anna Maria and Mayor Richard Bohnenberger of Holmes Beach Mayor will be participating in the event to show their support for the community’s seniors.

Meals on Wheels PLUS’s Mayors For Meals Day event will include a tour for the Mayors of the Meals on Wheels PLUS offices and the Food Bank of Manatee, located on 9^th Street East, Bradenton. Each Mayor will then accompany a Meals on Wheels PLUS volunteer driver on their route to the homebound seniors who receive meals daily. Currently Meals on Wheels PLUS serves 800 clients a day and is proud that there is no waiting list for a senior to receive this service.

 “We hope to raise awareness of senior hunger in our community” said Ellen Campbell, President/CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS. ”Our Mayors have been involved with our program in the past, and the national Mayors For Meals Day is an excellent way to continue our relationship.”

Businesses and professional groups as well as individuals are welcomed as volunteers to deliver hot, nutritious meals to homebound seniors in Manatee County. The time requirement for delivering meals is approximately one to two hours a day, delivered between 11am and 1pm Monday through Friday.  

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO REACH OUT TO LONELY SENIORS

Bradenton, Florida, March 3, 2008 – Every day, many seniors remain at home who maybe lonely, confined to their homes and have little or no contact with the outside world. Meals on Wheels PLUS has a free community program called Telephone Reassurance, which is available to help seniors in this situation, by providing daily phone calls. A simple 3 minute phone call by a caring volunteer can alert loved ones or the authorities of a possible problem at home or provide social contact.

If you are interested in learning more about this program and would like to sign up as a client, if you know of someone who needs this service, or if you would like to volunteer and make a difference in someone’s life, please call. If you don’t drive or you want to avoid the traffic, you never have to leave your home to volunteer for Telephone Reassurance. All that is required is a telephone and a caring spirit. Please call Carol at 747-4655 for more information.

RHODE ISLAND MILLIONAIRE HELPS FIGHT HUNGER IN MANATEE COUNTY!

Bradenton, Florida, February 29, 2008  -   For the eleventh consecutive year, in March and April, Alan Shaw Feinstein from Rhode Island will divide $1 million among hunger-fighting agencies nationwide, including The Food Bank of Manatee.

The Food Bank of Manatee, operated by Meals on Wheels PLUS is encouraging area businesses and organizations to take The Feinstein Challenge and conduct their canned food drives during this period.  All donations received from March 1^st to April 30^th, including cash, checks, and food items (that can be valued at $1.00 per item or pound) may be counted and added to the challenge total.

Last years $1 million challenge to fight hunger raised a record $148 million for agencies nationwide. The Food Bank of Manatee and Meals on Wheels PLUS collected $126,201 in food or monetary donations, earning them a grant from Mr. Feinstein for over $700.

 An easy way to help with this challenge is by donating at The Food Bank’s “Virtual Food Drive.”  Those interested can visit www.mealsonwheelsplus.org and contribute to the Food Bank by participating in an online grocery shopping experience.  By clicking on different food and grocery items, visitors will fill a virtual shopping cart with food and grocery products for the Food Bank.

To help The Food Bank of Manatee or Meals on Wheels PLUS with the Feinstein Challenge, simply write a check to Meals on Wheels PLUS and send to 811 23^rd Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34208. The check must note “Feinstein Challenge” in the memo, and be dated between March 1 and April 30, 2007 to be eligible.  Questions may be directed to Meals on Wheels PLUS at 747-4655.

*Click here for 2007 and 2006 press releases