In need of help during the COVID-19 pandemic? Here are resources in Manatee County
Resources are available to help struggling Manatee County residents through the COVID-19 pandemic. Opportunities also exist to support local relief efforts, which are facing a sudden and overwhelming demand.
With all schools closed through April 15, area students might struggle to find their daily lunch, and parents may need child care while they continue working. Other residents are losing work hours or jobs with the restrictions placed on restaurants and bars.
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee
The organization is continuing its home-delivered meal program for homebound seniors and residents with disabilities.
The Food Bank of Manatee, a partner to more than 100 agencies and food pantries, was fully operational over the past week. Meals on Wheels operates the Food Bank, which also provides pet food and infant care baskets — including formula, diapers and wipes — to its partner agencies.
Calls for assistance have “soared in the last several days,” according to an email from Amy Towery, vice president of development for the organization.
To locate a food pantry or soup kitchen, visit mealsonwheelsplus.org/need-help, and either use the map or click “Download a list of the food pantries in Manatee County.” The list includes agencies, phone numbers, addresses and operating hours.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting everyone in our community, we recommend those needing assistance call for any possible changes to distribution schedules before going to the pantries and soup kitchens,” Towery wrote.
To inquire about any of the Meals on Wheels programs, call 941-747-4655.
Meals on Wheels also partnered with the School District of Manatee County to distribute meals each Friday, helping families eat breakfast, lunch and dinner through the weekend. For a list of times and locations, visit manateeschools.net, navigate to the “Departments” tab and click “Food and Nutrition.”
Towery said the organization would continue its partnership with the school district “as long as we have the food available to do so.”
“If there are people who ‘overprepared’ their own home and can donate non-perishable items we can use them to help those in need in our community,” she said. “If people want to order online and have non-perishable food items delivered directly to us, we welcome those donations.”
Donations of nonperishable food — canned meat, canned fruit, peanut butter and boxed rice or pasta, for example — can be delivered to 811 23rd Ave. E., Bradenton. Unopened packages of toilet paper, paper towels, disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer can be sent to the same location.
And according to a news release, the Natalee Herrig Family Foundation offered a $50,000, one-to-one match on donations to help Meals on Wheels during the pandemic. Monetary donations can be made online at mealsonwheelsplus.org/donate, or they can be mailed to the 23rd Avenue location.
The Salvation Army
Anyone in need can visit the Salvation Army in Bradenton for a meal.
Community meals are held at 1204 14th St. W. between Monday and Friday, starting at 3 p.m. Visit the location for a free meal card in advance, or call 941-748-5110 for more information.
To help control the spread of COVID-19, the dinners are served in to-go containers, and the Salvation Army is inviting all residents who need assistance, said Kelly French, a spokeswoman for the organization.
As of Tuesday, the Salvation Army was also continuing its overnight shelter, with intake beginning at 6 p.m. between Monday and Friday, or 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The first seven nights are free to Manatee residents, followed by a cost of $10 per night, French said.
Call 941-748-5110 for more information about the shelters. The shelter for women and children is extension 128, while the men’s shelter is extension 112.
Along with monetary donations, the Salvation Army is asking for donations of nonperishable food, baby supplies, paper products, hygiene items and cleaning or sanitizing goods.
French said it costs about $20 to feed a family of four. To donate, visit salvationarmyflorida.org/manatee-county, or deliver supplies to the same location where community meals are held. The office can be reached at 941-748-5110.
2-1-1 Suncoast
Serving Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties, the organization provides confidential, 24-7 support to its callers.
The organization has information on financial resources, health programs, children services and food or housing assistance, according to its website.
2-1-1 Suncoast can be reached by calling 211, emailing uw211help@gmail.com or texting a zip code to 898-211. Residents can also visit the website — 211.gs-humanservices.org — and chat with a specialist.
Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County
Medical professionals, first responders, county employees and employees of Florida Power and Light can find child care with help from the Early Learning Coalition.
Andrea Drlicka, the family services director, will coordinate with people from those groups and secure free or subsidized child care when possible. She can be reached at 941-757-2908 or adrlicka@elc-manatee.org.
All residents can take advantage of the organization’s Child Care Resource and Referral service, which includes a database of Manatee County providers.
For help with finding child care, call 941-757-2900, extension 220, or email familyservices@elc-manatee.org.
Florida Department of Children and Families
The Department of Children and Families offers a provider search on its website, including the name, address, license number, capacity and hours of operation for each child care facility.
Inspection reports are also available for each provider. The tool is available at cares.myflfamilies.com/PublicSearch.
Humane Society of Manatee County
The county humane society is providing cat and dog food to those in need, according to its update on Monday.
Financially challenged residents who need pet food can reach the humane society by calling 941-747-8808 or emailing info@humanesocietymanatee.org.
“The demand for pet food over the next two weeks for those in need will far exceed our current inventory,” the organization reported. “In times like this, donations of any size make all the difference in the world to a family.”
As of this week, the adoption center was continuing to operate while also abiding by guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New policies focus on social distancing, while the limited business hours allow employees to clean and sanitize.
The adoption center operates from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Tuesday and Saturday, according to the update.
“We are managing our shelter animal population by limiting intake of owner surrenders, temporarily not transferring in any animals from other shelters, continuing to adopt out current animals and placing animals in temporary foster homes with a goal of a 50% reduction so it is manageable under the CDC guidelines and with potential staffing issues.”
As of the recent update, Manatee’s veterinary clinic remained open Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays. An appointment is required.
The adoption center, 2515 14th St. W., is situated near the veterinary clinic, 2415 14th St. W. in Bradenton. Both can be reached at 941-747-8808.
To continue operating its veterinary clinic, the agency reduced wellness and surgical appointments by 30 percent. Check-ins are completed in the parking lot and clients are escorted into the building one at a time.
“We stand ready to help those in need and also ask those more fortunate to donate today and help our community’s animals stay with their families,” the update states.
To contribute, call 941-747-8808 or visit humanemanatee.org/donate/online-donations.
Step Up Suncoast
Step Up Suncoast is offering help with utilities and other life necessities.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is among several resources for Manatee residents, according to an email from Jill Gass, director of development for the organization.
“We also have funds that can help with rent/mortgage, child care, transportation or other critical expenses, through funding provided by Season of Sharing,” she wrote.
To inquire about the various programs, call Step Up Suncoast at 941-827-2887.
Donations can be made at stepupsuncoast.org/support-us/donate. Contributions can also be mailed to Step Up Suncoast at 6428 Parkland Drive, Sarasota, FL 34243, with attention to the Development Office.
“We are continuing to pay all of our 239 staff so unrestricted dollars will help enormously right now,” Gass said on Wednesday.
Manatee County Utilities
Starting on March 13, Manatee County Utilities halted water shut-offs for the nonpayment of utility bills. The county wanted to help residents struggling with COVID-19, according to an email from Nick Azzara, the county spokesman.
The decision will remain “until further notice,” according to a follow-up email from Amy Pilson, public affairs liaison for the utilities department.
“There has not been a time frame or time limitation set for this policy,” she wrote. “It will be rescinded after evaluation of the conditions when the emergency state is over (and we don’t really have a definition of when it is over).”
Florida Power and Light
In a letter sent to millions of customers, FPL said it would suspend electrical disconnections, offer payment extensions and waive certain late-payment fees.
“We know this is a difficult and unsettling time and as Floridians, neighbors, friends and family, we are in this together,” the letter read.
FPL said affected residents should visit fpl.com/help for more information.
The company also requested donations to its Care To Share program, which provides bill assistance to people who face a temporary financial crisis. Interested customers can log into their FPL account, click “Donate to Care To Share” and submit the contribution form.
“A gift of electricity can make a massive difference in someone’s life, especially during this challenging time,” the letter states. “All contributions are distributed to the communities that we serve through a network of nonprofit human-service agencies, and there are no administrative fees so every dollar you donate truly makes a difference and may be tax-deductible.”
Spectrum Internet
Starting on March 16, Spectrum opened WiFi hotspots for public use over the next 60 days. To find an available hotspot, visit spectrum.com/wifi-hotspots.html.
The company is also continuing its Spectrum Internet Assist program, a high-speed broadband program for low-income households. More information is available at spectrum.com/browse/content/spectrum-internet-assist.
For students and teachers, Spectrum is offering two months of free internet and WiFi to new households that currently have no service. The company is available by calling 888-715-1990.
Widening the pool of internet access, Comcast opened Xfinity WiFi hotspots throughout the country. To locate a hotspot, visit xfinity.com/wifi.
Are you a nonprofit group or other organization providing assistance to those struggling during the coronavirus pandemic? Send an email detailing services offered, any needs you might have and contact information to gsabella@bradenton.com
This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 5:00 AM.