Main Street at Lakewood Ranch hosts Empty Bowls

By Lesley Dwyer
| 1:00 p.m. November 15, 2025

Maribeth Phillips is the president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, and Andy Guz, CEO of Manatee Memorial Hospital, is the board chair.

East County
Neighbors

Between Thanksgiving and the interruption of benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Food Bank of Manatee has been busy in November.

The food bank held two “crisis distributions” that provided thousands of meals to Manatee County residents who are food insecure, and 750 families will receive Thanksgiving dinners.

“There’s a big percentage of people who live paycheck-to-paycheck,” said Maribeth Phillips, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee. “You take away SNAP benefits, and all those factors create a need and a reliance on the Food Bank of Manatee.”

Phillips was on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch Nov. 14 for Empty Bowls, a soup tasting event that benefits the food bank and aims to “fill the bowls of our friends and neighbors in need.”

Phillips noted that all donations to the food bank stay in Manatee County.

Hundreds of people lined up to contribute to the cause and get a taste of 19 soups from restaurants around the area.

“We’re seeing people step up,” Phillips said. “That’s what we need to buy the food to get it out to people, especially during this crisis.”

The Station 400 tent has guests lining up for a taste of the broccoli and cheddar soup.

One man band Zack Pomerleau entertains the crowd.

Lakewood Ranch's Audra Bray and Juli Mirabile keep returning each year to Empty Bowls. "We're hooked," Bray said.

Ali Pereira dishes up chili for Ed's Tavern.

Lakewood Ranch's Pat Van Stedum and Sue Connizzo have been friends for 20 years.

Local artists donate the bowls that are given away to guests.

Guests peruse the array of handmade bowls.

Palmetto's JoAnne Haig and Janelle Clarke have almost decided on the bowls they'll take home, but Haig wants one more walk around the table first.

Becky Joy and Tracy Hecht work for Neal Communities, the exclusive Golden Ladle Sponsor of the event.

Jessica Dellamico and Becky Souflis are serving lobster and shrimp bisque from Simply Gourmet by Metz.

Empty Bowls is held on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch Nov. 14.

author

Lesley Dwyer

Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.