MEALS ON WHEELS PLUS OF MANATEE INC

THE FOOD BANK OF MANATEE:THE FOOD BANK OF MANATEE IS THE LARGEST HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATION BASED IN MANATEE COUNTY AND IS AN INDEPENDENT FOOD BANK RELYING MOSTLY ON THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF FOOD INSECURE BABIES, CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND SENIORS IN MANATEE COUNTY. THE FOOD BANK OF MANATEE DISTRIBUTES FOOD TO/THROUGH LOCAL PARTNER AGENCIES, INCLUDING FOOD PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS, AND LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. IN 2024, THE FOOD BANK OF MANATEE PUT NEARLY 3.8 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD INTO USE IN THE COMMUNITY TO MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS. OVER 2,100 EMERGENCY BABY BASKETS INCLUDING DIAPERS, WIPES, AND FORMULA WERE ALSO PROVIDED. (CONTINUED AT SCHEDULE O).OVER 57,500 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO BABIES, CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND SENIORS. OUR COMMUNITY WAS HIT BY THREE DEVASTATING STORMS IN 2024. THE IMPACTS OF THE STORMS, SO CLOSE TOGETHER, WERE CATASTROPHIC FOR THOSE LIVING ON THE BARRIER ISLANDS AND FOR THOSE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING TROPICAL STORM DEBBY, HURRICANE HELENE, AND HURRICANE MILTON, OVER 110,000 MEALS WERE PROVIDED IN ADDITION TO CLEANING SUPPLIES, PET FOOD, FRESH PRODUCE, WATER, AND HYDRATION DRINKS WERE DISTRIBUTED AT OVER 30 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT MANATEE COUNTY IN ADDITION TO OUR NETWORK OF OVER 100 FOOD PANTRIES DISTRIBUTING RESOURCES FROM THE FOOD BANK OF MANATEE. AS THE ONLY FOOD BANK BASED IN MANATEE COUNTY, FLORIDA, WE WERE THE MAIN POINT OF CONTACT FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR MANATEE COUNTY'S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER.

THE HOME DELIVERED MEALS (HDM) PROGRAM:MEALS ON WHEELS PLUS OF MANATEE'S HOME-DELIVERED MEALS PROGRAM HAS BEEN PROVIDING HEALTHY MEALS TO ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS FOR OVER 50 YEARS. DURING 2024, OVER 190,000 MEALS WERE PREPARED FOR AN AVERAGE OF 535 HOMEBOUND SENIORS EACH MONTH. ENROLLMENT IN THIS LIFESAVING PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL MANATEE COUNTY RESIDENTS AGED 60 PLUS REGARDLESS OF GENDER, RACE, OR RELIGION. MEALS ARE DELIVERED ON A WEEKLY BASIS BY TRAINED, CARING VOLUNTEERS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10:00 AM AND 2:00 PM. WEEKLY VISITS ARE SUPPLEMENTED BY PERIODIC TELEPHONE REASSURANCE CALLS AS A "CHECK-IN" TO CURB LONELINESS AND ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING OF THE CLIENTS WE SERVE. (CONTINUED AT SCHEDULE O)IN ADDITION TO MEALS AND PHONE CALLS, OUR HOME-DELIVERED MEALS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FRESH PRODUCE AND PET FOOD, FREE OF CHARGE TO HOME-DELIVERED MEALS CLIENTS.