Ray Bellamy and Sheriff Wells Unite Volunteers to Pack 350 Thanksgiving Meals for Manatee Families
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells joined dozens of volunteers in Palmetto to help assemble Thanksgiving meal boxes for families in need, continuing a long-standing community tradition led by former University of Miami football standout Ray Bellamy.
The event took place at Lincoln Memorial Middle School, where Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies and staff worked alongside law enforcement officers, community leaders, and local youth groups to pack 350 turkey dinners for residents facing hardship this holiday season.
Manatee County’s own, Ray Bellamy, the first African American athlete to sign a football scholarship with the University of Miami, has dedicated 41 years to distributing holiday meals across Florida. This year marks his ninth collaboration with Sheriff Wells, strengthening a partnership focused on ensuring every family has the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving with a nutritious meal.
Each box prepared at the event includes a family-size turkey and a full selection of traditional sides. Local churches and community organizations will deliver the meals to households throughout the area.
Volunteers represented a wide cross-section of the community, including members of the Kiwanis Club, Rogers Community Church, the Palmetto Boys & Girls Club, and players from the Palmetto High School basketball team. Their combined efforts helped continue Bellamy’s decades-long mission of giving back and supporting families during the holiday season.
