Food Bank of Manatee to Host Two Empty Bowls Luncheons This Week in Support of Programs to Feed Manatee County Residents
The 25th Annual “Empty Bowls” luncheon 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 onFriday, November 14, 2025, on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. Advanced tickets are $35 each for general admission ($40 day of event) and include a unique ceramic bowl to keep, a selection of soups, fresh bread, and dessert. Advanced VIP tickets are $50 ($60 day of event) and allow for early admission and access to a special selection of bowls.
On Sunday, November 16, 2025, at TerraNova Equestrian Center, 31625 Clay Gully Road, Myakka City, Florida, a second Empty Bowls Event will be held. Tickets are $50 each. The event will run from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm.
“These events offer guests an opportunity to enjoy a symbolic meal of soup and bread, demonstrating that, together, we can fill the empty bowls of our neighbors in need,” said Maribeth Phillips, President & CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. “With the recent pause on funding for food programs, the needs are higher than ever before. These events will bring people together to raise critical funds for The Food Bank of Manatee,” she added.
Empty Bowls events are annual fundraisers 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 the largest hunger-relief organization and only food bank based in Manatee County. The Food Bank of Manatee provides food to 95+ local social service agencies, food pantries, and soup kitchens, while also providing direct distributions for the community during emergencies. The Food Bank of Manatee has been providing help and hope to Manatee County residents since it opened in 1985.
Tickets are available online at https://mealsonwheelsplus.org/event/. Tickets are limited, and the events did sell out last year, so get your tickets today!
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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” was eventually added to the name as a way of representing the many other services offered. The mission of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee is to assist individuals to live independently by providing nutrition and caring, supportive services. Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee offers comprehensive care and essential programs that assist people to live independently. While services include delivering nutritious meals to the elderly and disabled, other essential programs include: The Food Bank of Manatee, Daybreak Adult Day Center, and Friendship Dining. More information is available at http://www.MealsOnWheelsPLUS.org.
