Urgent Need for Volunteer Drivers

Have you ever considered that hope, health and happiness could be hand-delivered in just a few hours a week?

"As a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, I am not only delivering a hot nutritious meal, I am delivering love," said Laurie Fox, volunteer and Seniors Real Estate Specialist with Coldwell Banker.  "A simple smile or kind word means the world to some of these special people who eagerly await for us to arrive!"

With the summer months upon us, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee is asking community members to help fill the need for Volunteer Drivers to deliver hot-nutritious meals to home-bound seniors.

The time requirement for delivering meals is approximately 1 to 1-1/2 hours, one day per week.  Meals are prepared at the Meals on Wheels PLUS kitchen at 811 23rd Avenue East in Bradenton, and delivered by volunteers between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“Assistance from the community is crucial to our operations,” said Maribeth Phillips, CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS. “We simply could not provide the nutrition and support to local people in need without the help of our volunteers.”

For additional information about volunteering or any other Meals on Wheels PLUS programs, please call 941-747-4655 or visit www.mealsonwheelsplus.org.

Eat Well. Do Good. Help Meals on Wheels PLUS by dining at Columbia Restaurant in September

Let your appetite do the giving while you support Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee by dining at the St. Armands Circle - Columbia Restaurant location!

During the month of September, the Columbia Restaurant will host the 17th Annual Columbia Restaurant Community Harvest. This program has been developed by the Gonzmart family of the Columbia Restaurant to benefit many worthy non-profit organizations.

Through this program, The Columbia donates 5% of all guests’ lunch and dinner checks to the charitable organizations chosen by their customers during September.  The Community Harvest occurs in all of the Columbia locations including Ybor City in the historic district of Tampa, St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, St. Augustine, Sand Key on Clearwater Beach, Central Florida’s Town of Celebration, the Columbia Cafe on the Riverwalk in Downtown Tampa at the Tampa Bay History Center and the Columbia Restaurant Cafe at Tampa International Airport.  All Columbia locations are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Meals on Wheels PLUS will be listed on the ballot at the Columbia Restaurant at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota.  

“We started this program in 1998 as a way to help many of the worthy non-profit groups that are so important to our communities,” said 4th generation family member and president Richard Gonzmart.  “We thought the best way to do this was by letting our customers get involved in selecting the organizations.  The process is simple.  They just put a check mark next to one of the charitable organizations listed on a form we provide. They turn it in to their server.  We do the rest, and donate 5% to the charity.”  

Over the past 16 years, the Columbia Restaurant Community Harvest has donated more than $1.5 million to non-profit organizations throughout Florida.   For more information, visit www.ColumbiaRestaurant.com

Do you have a Hurricane Box?

As those of us on the Suncoast know, it is officially hurricane season. This is the time of year when we stock up on bottled water, set aside canned food, and ensure that legal documents are in a safe, waterproof container. I call it "the hurricane box" and everything important is there. Whether it's storm season or not, all essential documents should be in one place. The list below is a great resource in your planning. And don't forget to assign an out-of-town person as your emergency contact, letting them know where these documents can be found...just in case!

2014 Giving Challenge - Thank You!

Many thanks to all of the Meals on Wheels PLUS supporters who participated in the 2014 Giving Challenge!

The annual Giving Challenge aligned with a national "Give Local" giving day, during which more than 60 communities participated in online giving events.  During the course of 24 hours (May 5 and 6), a total of  $3,127,801 was donated by our generous local community to the benefit of approximately 400 local charitable organizations.  Meals on Wheels PLUS was proud to received more than $13,000 of that total! Thank You!

The 2014 Giving Challenge was presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County in partnership with The Patterson Foundation, with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Manatee Community Foundation, William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, and the Charlotte Community Foundation.

Medical Clinic for Rent at Renaissance on 9th

Do you know a medical professional in search of an office?  We have just the place for you! Renaissance on 9th has a turn-key office currently available, complete with built in client base!  This office is ready for a physician to walk in with stethoscope in hand and start practicing.  Space includes two Exam Rooms complete with exam tables, outside sink, private bathroom, waiting room and private reception area all accessible from a private entrance. Potential signage location on monument sign on 9th Street West available to allow capture of new clientele.  This is an unusual opportunity.  Landlord is willing to get creative with leasing strategy.  A "must see".

For more information, contact Susan H. Goldstein at 941-350-9747 or susangoldstein@thecomercialspecialist.com.