- April 27, 2024
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Stuart Hales and Ava Lasseter greet guests at Tropical Nights on March 23.
Photo by Lesley DwyerSarasota resident Zoey Headings isn't attending the event, but stops to get a photo with pirate Ava Lasseter.
Photo by Lesley DwyerEric and Yudy Epler work for Woodruff & Sons, one of the event's sponsors.
Photo by Lesley DwyerThis is the first year William and Judi Bjork haven't had to work the event. Judi Bjork retired from Meals on Wheels Plus in Decemeber.
Photo by Lesley DwyerMelissa and Keith Pandeloglou enjoy Saturday night mate night as a couple of pirates.
Photo by Lesley DwyerPatrick Wright and Maribeth Phillips, Meals on Wheels Plus CEO, enjoy the music in the ballroom.
Photo by Lesley DwyerTropical Ave Band performs for the crowd.
Photo by Lesley DwyerBradenton residents Mallory and Chad Metcalf attend Tropical Nights with Meals on Wheels Plus board member Christi Bock.
Photo by Lesley DwyerLakewood Ranch residents Bob and Diane Beck are longtime supporters of Meal on Wheels Plus. This isn't their first Tropical Nights.
Photo by Lesley DwyerVenice residents Jens and Bethany Behrmann get into character.
Photo by Lesley DwyerThe theme of this year's Tropical Nights is "A Pirate's Life."
Photo by Lesley DwyerManatee County Court Judge Melissa Gould attends Tropical Nights with her husband Ryan Jawitz. Gould is a member of the Meals on Wheels Plus board.
Photo by Lesley DwyerThese pirates plundered the booty and "arrrr" putting it toward a good cause.
Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee hosted Tropical Nights on March 23 at the Grove Ballroom.
Captain Jack Sparrow greeted guests, as the event’s theme was “A Pirate’s Life.” Eye patches, scarves and stuffed shoulder parrots were the must-have accessories for the evening.
The Tropical Ave Band provided the music, and the silent auction provided the action. Diamond earrings, a yacht trip and an eight-day European stay were up on the block, along with ABC 7’s Bob Harrigan. The package was called “An Evening with a Meteorologist.”
“We raised over $200,000 last year,” CEO Maribeth Phillips said. “We would love to do that again.”
Meals on Wheels Plus delivers over 300,000 meals a year. The Food Bank of Manatee, one of the Plus programs, has distributed more than 3 million pounds of food into the community.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Tropical Nights. Phillips said there were people in the ballroom who have attended at least 25 of them.
William and Judi Bjork have attended at least 16 because that’s how long Judi Bjork was the outreach coordinator for Meal on Wheels Plus. This year, the Bjorks can relax.
“She was always setting up all these events,” William Bjork said, “And then, of course, that brought me in the door and I was emptying garbage bags and helping with everything. This is the first year we’re not doing any of that.”
Judi Bjork retired in December. The couple enjoyed the rest of the evening with cocktails in hand and nothing on their shoulders except William Bjork’s stuffed parrot.
