Sarasota – June 20, 2025 – In 2024, catastrophic Hurricane Milton directly hit the Sarasota community making landfall on Siesta Key. Meals on Wheels of Sarasota was one of 223,000 customers left without power after the storm. For many of their clients, daily meal delivery is their primary source of nutrition, making it even more critical for the operations to resume as quickly as possible. Meals on Wheels is grateful for the assistance from World Central Kitchen after the storm and reflected on how they can better collaborate to prepare for these natural disasters.

Meals on Wheels Sarasota is thrilled to announce that the American Red Cross and Mote Scientific Foundation is funding the installation of a new generator. With this generator, Meals on Wheels is confident they will be able to deliver meals to vulnerable neighbors quickly in the event of a hurricane. This generator will fully power their on-site kitchen and administrative office, making sure unforeseen circumstances do not hinder vital service. George J. & Alice Pugh Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County provided funding for a mass communication system which will allow us to deliver important automated calls to volunteers and clients.

Executive Director, Rhonda Leiberick, shares “Preparedness is our best defense in the face of a hurricane. We’re thankful for a community that prepares together; by taking proactive steps today, we can minimize risk and ensure our most vulnerable are prepared. Together, we can weather the storm.”

Meals on Wheels is also proud to announce their Hurricane Kit Pilot Program. One hundred clients received a 5-gallon bucket overflowing with shelf stabile meals for five days, water, Ensure, can opener, flashlight, word search puzzles, body wipes, first aid kit, and hand sanitizer. Thank you to Pulte Group, Bank of America, FP Restoration, American Red Cross, and All Faiths Food Bank for their generous donations and ability to make this project possible. Each company provided volunteers to assemble the kits. Through this pilot program, clients who are most susceptible to impact from a potential storm will have the resources they need if they are to lose power.

Emilie Campos, Community Disaster Risk Reduction Coordinator at American Red Cross, shares why they partnered with Meals on Wheels for this project: “The Sarasota Community Adaptation Program (CAP) is proud to partner with Meals on Wheels of Sarasota to support the distribution of preparedness kits to the seniors they serve. This collaboration is a meaningful way for us to help ensure our community’s most vulnerable residents are better equipped for the upcoming hurricane season. We believe you can never be too prepared when it comes to disaster readiness, and this initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to building resilience across the Sarasota community.”

To donate, volunteer, get meals, or learn more about Meals on Wheels, visit www.mealsonwheelsofsarasota.org or call 941-366-6693.