Meals On Wheels Plus Of Manatee Hosts 21st Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon

Meals On Wheels Plus Of Manatee Hosts 21st Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon To Benefit The Food Bank Of Manatee

Bradenton, FL – October 22, 2021 The 21st Annual “Empty Bowls” luncheons to benefit The Food Bank of Manatee, A PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee will be held from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Thursday, November 4th, 2021 at Manatee Performing Arts Center, and 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Friday, November 5th, 2021, at Main Street in Lakewood Ranch.  The symbolic meal of soup and bread demonstrates that, together, we can fill the empty bowls of our neighbors in need.   

Tickets are $30 each for general admission and include a unique ceramic bowl to keep, a selection of soups, fresh-baked bread, and dessert. VIP tickets are $50 and allow for early admission and access to a special selection of bowls.  

Empty Bowls is the primary annual fundraiser benefiting The Food Bank of Manatee and 100% of the proceeds go directly back to hunger and nutrition programs in Manatee County.  The Food Bank of Manatee is a program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee and is the largest hunger-relief organization based in Manatee County, providing food to over 90 local social service agencies, food pantries, and soup kitchens, while also providing direct distributions to the community. The Food Bank of Manatee has provided over 55 million pounds of food to Manatee County residents since it first opened in 1985.

“As we see a continued rise in food-insecurity, in our 21st year of hosting the Empty Bowls event, our efforts are more important now than ever before. The pandemic has taught us that, together, we can do many things. We invite the community to join us to fill the bowls of those in need,” said Maribeth Phillips, President & CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee.  

General Admission tickets are $30, VIP are $50 and are available online at https://mealsonwheelsplus.org/emptybowls or at the entrance of the following locations:

• Thursday, November 4th, 2021, at Manatee Performing Arts Center • 502 3rd Avenue West, Bradenton, Florida 34205; General Admission Guests may attend anytime between 11 am – 1 pm; VIP Guests will be admitted at 10:30 am for early bowl selection.
• Friday, November 5th, 2021, at Lakewood Ranch Main Street • 8131 Main Street, Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202; General Admission Guests may attend anytime between 11 am – 1 pm; VIP Guests will be admitted at 10:30 am for early bowl selection.

About Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee

While initially founded in 1972, with the purpose of providing nutritious meals to the elderly and disabled residents of Manatee County, Meals on Wheels of Manatee, Inc. became so much more. The organization grew over the years in response to community needs, and the “PLUS”