Urgent Need for Meals on Wheels Drivers in Manatee

BRADENTON, FL – In an effort to replace seasonal volunteers, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee County is currently recruiting volunteers to deliver hot meals to disabled or homebound residents.

As seasonal volunteers are returning to their northern homes, many delivery routes currently have no drivers. The time requirement for delivering meals is approximately one hour to 90 minutes from one day per week or up to five. Meals are prepared at the Meals on Wheels Plus kitchen, 811 23rd Ave. E. in Bradenton, and delivered by volunteers between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“With more than 700 hot, fresh meals going out into Manatee County each day, assistance from the community is crucial to our operations,” said Maribeth Phillips, CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS.

Meals on Wheels organizers said the volunteer opportunity is a good fit for parents to do with their children during the summer, responsible teenagers in need of community service, or retired or semi-retired adults. Businesses can participate in the Adopt a Route program offering employees an opportunity for community engagement.

“We are only able to provide the nutrition and support to local seniors with the help of our volunteers, and there is no more fulfilling way to spend a lunch hour,” Phillips said. “Our volunteers are truly our champions, who not just hand over a meal, but in most cases, they are the only human our clients see in a day.”

For more information about volunteering or any other Meals on Wheels PLUS programs, call (941) 747-4655 or visit www.mealsonwheelsplus.org.

Image via Shutterstock

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