Empty Bowls in Lakewood Ranch will support hurricane relief

The annual Empty Bowls event this year in Lakewood Ranch will help to meet a critical need in the community.

Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee volunteers and staff have been working to make sure their event is successful so the Food Bank of Manatee is stocked and ready to distribute food and supplies for hurricane relief efforts.

All proceeds from Empty Bowls on Nov. 8 at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch will benefit the Food Bank of Manatee as it helps those impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

Maribeth Phillips, the CEO and president of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, said the nonprofit is “knee deep in hurricane relief” as its volunteers and staff have been all over the county from Myakka City to Bradenton Beach distributing food and supplies.

“We’re going to see people who rely on food distributions by our pantries list for a very long time,” she said. “People lost their jobs, their income, not to mention how much food they’ve lost in their homes and the repairs to their homes. We see this as a very long runway in recovery. This is where the food bank is so critical in Manatee County.”

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

Phillips said the food bank already had seen an increased number of people coming for assistance since the COVID-19 pandemic followed by inflation. The devastations of the back-to-back hurricanes only have made the need more critical.

These events have shown that the food bank is a critical pillar in Manatee County, Phillips said. 

When Hurricane Helene ripped through the coast Sept. 27, Phillips said Meals on Wheels Plus staff and volunteers were going along the coast to address needs. 

“You could see the water lines above the houses where they completely flooded and their entire belongings are out in their front yard,” Phillips said. “It’s very real, and it is devastating for these people, and a lot of them are elderly.”

Then after Hurricane Milton pummeled the area Oct. 9-10, Meals on Wheels Plus was out there again and every day since.

Phillips said on Oct. 21 alone, the nonprofit distributed food to 14 mobile home parks. 

After so much hardship, Empty Bowls will be a time for the community to gather for a good cause, Phillips said. 

“We are so deeply grateful to this amazing community that helps us to make sure that those people who don’t have food and who need help during the hurricane are supported,” Phillips said. “We’re just trying to make sure people get back on their feet.”

Guests who attend Empty Bowls will select a handcrafted bowl to keep and enjoy the soup, bread and desserts local restaurants have donated.