The Food Bank of Manatee is Manatee County's largest hunger relief organization and the only food bank based in the county. It works as a wholesale food supplier, meaning it doesn't distribute food directly to individual households. Instead, it provides food to nonprofit partner agencies and local food pantries, which then serve families in their own communities.
If you're looking for food for yourself or your family, you can find a nearby partner pantry through the Find Food page.
Emergency food boxes and emergency baby baskets are available through participating nonprofit agencies and government organizations serving clients in crisis. These items aren't distributed directly to the public at this location.
The Food Bank of Manatee supplies partner agencies with a wide range of items, including canned vegetables, canned fruits, canned soups, canned meat, boxed rice, boxed pasta, mac and cheese, peanut butter, jelly, oatmeal, powdered milk, applesauce, dried beans, trail mix, healthy cereals, breakfast bars, and 100% fruit juices. Baby food, baby cereal, formula, diapers, wipes, and pet food are also collected and distributed through partner channels.
Emergency food boxes are tailored to the size of each family, including their pets.
Emergency baby baskets contain critical care items like formula, baby food, diapers, wipes, and toys for infants up to 2 years of age.
This location does not offer public food distribution for individual walk-ins. Food reaches households through the network of partner agencies and food pantries that the Food Bank supplies. To find a food pantry near you, visit the Find Food page on the Meals on Wheels PLUS website.
The Food Bank of Manatee runs a Mobile Produce Pantry that brings free fresh produce directly to people in the community. The mobile truck visits three locations every third Thursday of the month:
You can visit the Mobile Produce Pantry page for more details.
The Food Bank is part of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, which also runs home-delivered meals for seniors and homebound residents, the Daybreak Adult Day Center, and Friendship Dining Centers.
The Food Bank of Manatee welcomes food and financial donations. You can drop off non-perishable food donations at any yellow barrel location in the community. Most-needed items include canned vegetables, canned fruits, canned soups, canned meat, peanut butter, jelly, boxed rice, boxed pasta, oatmeal, powdered milk, mac and cheese, dried beans, trail mix, healthy cereals, breakfast bars, and 100% fruit juices. Pet food, baby food, diapers, and other baby supplies are also welcome.
Monetary donations can be made online at securepayment.link/mealsonwheelsplus or mailed by check to Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, Attn: Donations, 811 23rd Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34208. For more donation options, visit the Donate page or call (941) 747-4655.
Volunteers are warmly welcomed at The Food Bank of Manatee. Volunteer tasks include sorting and packing food for distribution to partner agencies. Group volunteer opportunities are also available — call (941) 747-4655 to learn more. You can sign up through the volunteer portal on the Meals on Wheels PLUS website.
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