Remember “Stuff the Bus” is next Sunday.
This is the annual joint community effort to bolster the Food Bank of Manatee, the county’s largest hunger-relief organization, and will be held at all 19 Manatee County Publix locations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Customers can donate nonperishable food and/or make monetary donations to help stuff the school bus parked at each Publix store. All donations benefit the Food Bank of Manatee, operated at 811 23rd Ave. E. by Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee.
“We are seeing as much as a 40% increase from our food pantries and partners right now and the need for food is great,” said Maribeth Phillips, the vital nonprofit’s president and CEO. “Every donation is important and every can and item donated will help change a life.”
The 2024 Stuff the Bus supporters include Mosaic, Publix, United Way Suncoast, the Manatee School District, the Bishop Parker Foundation, and the Herald-Tribune.
Want to volunteer Sunday? Register online at volunteersuncoast.org/stuffthebus.
· That’s 26 years of wedded bliss for Jack and Mary Ambrogi.
· Among the Grand Dames of Manatee High’s Drill Team-Sugar ‘Cane joyous 75th anniversary reunion that saw more than 200 alumni participants last weekend were Wylene Barmore Graham (’51), Mary Wooten Brown (’55), Pearl White McCaw (’56), Mamie Gay Henson (’56), Oppie Wooten Allen (’57), Flora Hampton Schott (’58), Janie Sumner Roak (’58), Diane Guthrie Leach-McAnnaly (’59), Carol Yerly Smith (’59), Darlene King Jones (’60), Barbara Wintz Tyler (’63), Nancy Cotterman Varner (’63), Charlie Moran Collins (’64), and Robbie Surratt Wallace (’66).
· Connie Chaltis is 39. Again.
· So is Ruth Lawler.
· Big ups to John Karl, Southeast High’s respected athletic trainer and summer recipient of the Athletic Trainers Association of Florida Career Achievement Award. Karl has been with the Noles for 35 years.
· Pat Curran is 79 years young.
· Henry Lawrence is 73 years young.
· Terry Wilson is 65 years young.
· And Don French is 61 years young.
· The Crewe of DeSoto’s 25th annual Charity Golf Tournament is Friday, Oct. 18, at IMG Golf Club. For details, visit: desotohq.com/charity-golf tournament. Or call 941-747-1998.
· Lastly, once again ours will be a house divided today. Sherri’s a Bucs’ fan. Me? E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!!!
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944. X (formerly Twitter): @vinmannix.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN’S PEOPLE: It’s Stuff the Bus time to support Food Bank of Manatee
