SARASOTA – “The difference between February 2020 and March 2020 and forward is astronomical,” said Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Sarasota, Marjorie Broughton.
In February, Meals on Wheels of Sarasota was distributing around 3,000 meals per week.
Now, the nonprofit delivers more than 5,000 meals.
The organization now needs cleaning supplies and even diapers.
“We work closely with the emergency task force for Sarasota County, which means that we’re working with All Faiths Food banks and the Board of Education who identified individuals and families who didn’t have transportation to get to food pantry sites,” said Broughton.
The cost of delivering food and supplies to the Nokomis and Osprey area has significantly increased the nonprofit’s costs.
“We used our food budget that had been set aside at the end of May. So we will come close to probably 800 hundred to 900 hundred thousand dollars in food costs alone,” said Broughton.
Venice Area Mobile Meals distribute meals to those who are unable to prepare a meal due to mental or physical disability in the greater Venice area.
The organization, run 100 percent by volunteers, went from delivering 175 meals a week to 195.
“We’re not in any way supported by any government program or get any government funding,” said President of Venice Area Mobile Meals, Mary Ann Dillahunty.
Meals are typically purchased at cost from Village on the Isle, Dillahunty says in normal times, about 20 percent of those they serve receive complimentary meals, but since the pandemic began, it’s closer to 30 percent.
“So we’re probably going to be in the 40,000 to 50,000 additional costs to our organization this year,” said Public Relations Officer of Venice Area Mobile Meals, Robert Sloboda.
For more information on the organizations, you can visit Meals On Wheels of Sarasota, and Venice Area Mobile Meals, Inc.
