Meals on Wheels delivers 10 millionth meal

It was turkey day for 97-year-old Marie Smith, but with a twist.

When her usual Meals on Wheels lunch arrived Thursday, it was accompanied by a huge bouquet of flowers, and guests.

Maribeth Phillips, the Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee chief executive officer, came through the Bradenton resident’s door along with Will Robinson, the Meals on Wheels Plus board chairmen.

They were delivering the 10 millionth meal dished out by Meals on Wheels, which is celebrating its 43rd anniversary on Saturday.

“That’s a lot of cooking, a lot of logistics,” said Phillips, who lives in Lakewood Ranch.

Smith is the longest served client for Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee at 14 years.

“I think I’ve been getting them longer than that,” said Smith, who said her favorite delivered meal is steak.

Over time, Smith has had different people deliver her meals, but they all had one thing in common.

“They are nice,” Smith said. “I don’t know their names. I just call them sweetheart.”

Smith is vision impaired and can’t cook for herself so she receives the meals Monday through Friday along with frozen meals that are delivered for the weekend.

After Phillips and Robinson delivered the special meal, they headed back to the non-profit’s facility on 23rd Avenue for a celebration.