United Way of Manatee County and Manatee Community Foundation step up to the plate for Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee

Jerry Koontz (President of United Way of Manatee County), Ellen Campbell (President of Meals on Wheels PLUS), Cassandra Holmes (Development Director of Manatee Community Foundation) Photo: United Way

BRADENTON -- The United Way of Manatee County and Manatee Community Foundation (MCF) provided emergency funding of more than $15,000, to assist Meals on Wheels PLUS in the purchase of two convection ovens needed to provide hot meals to thousands in our community. This equipment is crucial to the organization’s production of daily meals for homebound and disabled seniors.  
 
Meals on Wheels PLUS is the primary provider of senior nutrition in Manatee County, producing approximately 4000 meals for homebound individuals each week.  MOW of Manatee reached a milestone in mid-2010 with the delivery of its 9 Millionth Meal. This is an average of 237,000 meals each year, which takes quite a toll on even commercial kitchen equipment. Unwilling to compromise service, quality, and the overall health of homebound seniors, Meals on Wheels PLUS requested emergency funding from United Way of

Manatee County and the Manatee Community Foundation for help in funding the necessary kitchen equipment.  

”Without the generosity of these two groups, we would not have been able to continue preparing the kind of hot, nutritious meals our seniors depend upon“ said Ellen Campbell, President/CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS. ”It’s encouraging to know that local agencies are not alone in their mission to help those in need.“

New ovens Photo: United Way

The United Way of Manatee County develops resources and partnerships that make a measurable difference in peoples’ lives by focusing on five local initiatives.  The United Way actively supports the intervention and prevention of abuse and violence, early childhood development and youth development, as well as, providing food, shelter and services for people with disabilities and for the elderly and their caregivers.

 The United Way is passionate about creating lasting changes in Manatee County.

 ”United Way places a very high priority on the stability and self-sufficiency of the people of our community.  Home Delivered Meals are vitally important to achieving that objective for our home-bound citizens,“ acknowledged Jerry Koontz, President, United Way of Manatee County.

The Manatee Community Foundation connects charitable interests of donors with the ongoing needs of the community to build a permanent charitable endowment for Manatee County.

 Marilyn Howard, Executive Director of MCF stated, ”if Meals on Wheels PLUS’ production of meals goes down, for any reason, there is no Ôbackup’ provider waiting in the wings. People will suffer. Part of the mission of the Manatee Community Foundation is to respond to emergency needs in the community.“

For more information on this, please contact United Way at 748-1313 or Manatee Community Foundation at 747-7765.