Feeding Empty Little Tummies (FELT) is Manatee County’s Original Backpack Program, designed to help end childhood hunger. We are dedicated to feeding the county’s most needy – homeless and food-insecure students. One backpack at a time!
To pack and deliver meals for food deprived children in our community.
To eliminate hunger and meet the nutritional needs of the children in our community.
We believe in operating with Passion, Integrity, Commitment, and Love.
At Feeding Empty Little Tummies (FELT), the mission is simple—but the impact is huge. Every Friday, volunteers quietly provide food-filled backpacks to children who rely on school meals during the week but may have little or nothing to eat at home on weekends. For these kids, it’s a dependable source of nourishment when they need it most.
Each bag is packed with easy-to-open, kid-friendly foods — items children can prepare on their own without needing a stove or adult help. It’s a small gesture that makes a big difference in a child’s life.
The program currently serves thousands of students across Manatee County, working in partnership with local schools and relying on donations and volunteer support.
When you support FELT, you’re doing more than providing food—you’re giving hope, stability, and a sense of normalcy to a child who might otherwise go without.
Whether you’re donating, volunteering, or spreading the word, you’re helping to change the lives of children right here in Manatee County.
We are grateful for the support of our Sponsors and partners, who help fuel operations and events with their promotions and donations.
Their assistance helps F.E.L.T’s mission to improve the lives of the children in our community.
