As the season of gratitude approaches, many of us pause to reflect on the blessings in our lives, family, health, community, and the comfort of knowing there will be food on our tables. Yet in Manatee County, hunger often hides in plain sight. For too many children, the end of the school day signals the beginning of uncertainty: where will the next meal come from?
This is where Feeding Empty Little Tummies (F.E.L.T.), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, steps in with a mission rooted in compassion and service: to feed our community’s most vulnerable youth, homeless and food-insecure students, one backpack at a time.
Every child in the F.E.L.T. backpack program is pre-qualified as either homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or living in a food-insecure household. Many lack stable housing altogether, staying in motels, campgrounds, or doubled up with extended family. Amid this uncertainty, the gift of a weekend’s worth of food tucked into a backpack is more than nourishment, it’s a reminder that their community sees them, values them, and cares for them.
Each Friday, volunteers gather at the F.E.L.T. warehouse in Palmetto to take part in what has become a beloved tradition: “Backpack Day.” From 9:30 to 11:30 am during the school year, individuals of all ages roll up their sleeves to pack backpacks filled with nutritious meals. For those who prefer to serve behind the wheel, delivery drivers are always needed to ensure these backpacks reach the children who need them most.
The time commitment may be small, just two hours, but the impact is immeasurable. Each filled backpack represents one child who will be able to focus on learning instead of worrying about hunger. Each delivery is a tangible expression of care and hope. And each act of service is a reminder that giving thanks isn’t just about words, it’s about action.
This November, as we gather around our own tables in gratitude, let’s also remember those who go without. F.E.L.T. offers our community a powerful opportunity to turn thanksgiving into thanks-living and transforming gratitude into service and ensuring that every child has the nourishment they need to thrive.
If you’re passionate about improving the lives of children and helping to end food insecurity in Manatee County, F.E.L.T. invites you to join the mission. Together, we can ensure that gratitude is more than a feeling, it’s a gift we pass forward.
Visit us in person: 901 8th Ave W, Palmetto, FL 34221
Call: 941-896-7870
Because when a child doesn’t have to wonder where dinner will come from, they’re free to dream bigger, learn deeper, and thrive.