Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee

The food bank of manateethe food bank of Manatee is largest hunger relief organization based in Manatee county, distributing food to over 80 local partner agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, and social service organizations. In 2022, 3.4 million pounds of food were distributed to agencies serving children, families and seniors in need. In response to increased hunger relief needs stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, the organization developed the food 4 families program, issuing weekly direct distributions of food to families in need throughout Manatee county in 2020 and 2021. The program continued during the summer and holiday months of 2022, issuing nearly 145,000 Meals to families in need. The food bank also issued over 1,600 emergency baskets to families and babies in crisis.

Adult day center daybreak adult day center (adc) provides daytime care monday through friday for frail, elderly adults. Many times these individuals live at home with a loved one and cannot be left alone while their caregiver works or attends to household needs. The center offers a safe, secure environment with recreational and therapeutic activities designed to meet the needs of clients. Quality, trained staff provide peace of mind and respite for families and caregivers. Clients enjoy a stimulating and nurturing environment, participating in social, mental and light physical activities and a healthy meal. Daybreak is the only licensed adult day care center in Manatee county. Adult day care services were suspended in march 2020, following cdc guidelines and to ensure the safety and health of our clients. However, the center reopened in december 2021 to continue serving seniors in need throughout Manatee county. We are licensed for 100 clients. In 2022, we served 81 clients.

The home delivered Meals (hdm) program / friendship dining program Meals on Wheels Plus' hdm program has been providing heart healthy Meals to elderly individuals for 50 years. Meals on Wheels Plus has delivered over 11 million Meals since 1972. During 2022, over 306,000 Meals were prepared for over 1,000 local homebound seniors. Enrollment is open to all Manatee county residents age 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 lonliness and enhance the well-being of the clients we serve. Group "friendship dining" centers are also available, offering companionship, activities and socialization along with a hot nutritious meal.

Transportation: the transportation program serves clients of daybreak adult day care in Manatee county, providing approximately 30 clients with over 6,000 rides throughout the county and maintaining all 8 vehicles. The transportation fleet consists of comfortable, state of the art handicap accessible buses, all secured through grants. Transportaition services were suspended in march 2020, following cdc guidelines and to ensure the safety and health of our clients. However, the transportation services program reopened in december 2021 as a companion service, supporting Meals on Wheels Plus' adult day care program. Other programs and services: nutrition counseling is offered as a one on one opportunity for a client to discuss food concerns, allergies, and other nutritional concerns with a licensed dietician in order to reduce concerns or health risks. The outreach program allows for distribution and sharing of information about all available services in the community, specifically targeting low income and limited english speaking and rural areas of Manatee county.