Non-Profit Spotlight: Feeding Empty Little Tummies

BRADENTON – I first came into contact with the non-profit Feeding Empty Little Tummies (FELT) when a tiny little spark plug of a woman named Jane Evers came into my office seven years ago and told me she wanted my help in solving a problem in our community. Jane passed on in late 2013, but the spirit of her mission lives through the work of this fine organization that has continued to serve the most vulnerable population in Manatee County.

Evers, who had been Bradenton's First Lady from 1980-2000 while her husband Bill served as Mayor, told me she first learned of what she would often refer to as our community's "dirty little secret" in a newspaper article that detailed the problem of homeless school students in Hernando County. The children relied on the school lunch program for nearly all of their sustenance, often missing meals on weekends when schools were closed. A non-profit there was helping out by collecting food for the children to take home when they left school on Friday afternoon.

A former beat reporter herself, Jane's instincts told her that the demographics in Manatee County were similar enough to reasonably assume that many of our community's kids were also suffering the same plight. Evers did some digging around and learned that there were as many as 1,200 students in Manatee County public schools who did not have permanent housing. Some were living outdoors, while others moved from cars or condemned trailers to the occasional fleabag motel if there was enough money that week. Food insecurity was a major concern.

At first, she and some friends decided to informally mimic the program in Hernando County, in which volunteers stuffed donated food items into backpacks that could be distributed to such kids when they left school on Friday and then recollected and refilled when they returned the following week.

The operation soon moved out of the Evers' living room and into a small garage, the use of which had been donated by a local church. Evers' dogged determination continued to expand the organization's reach. By the time of her passing, FELT had its own headquarters and with the exception of one full-time employee for which the organization had received a grant, it was still operating 100 percent on volunteers and donations, right down to the gas in their vehicles that was burned while transporting the backpacks to the schools.

That first employee was Kim Bailey. Bailey is now FELT's Executive Director, but she remains the operation's only employee. Amazingly, the rest of the work is still done by a small army of dedicated volunteers. I sat down with Bailey and FELT Board President Dick Moore recently to discuss the organization's growth and learn what's in store for the future.

"There are now as many as 1,800 kids who are homeless in Manatee County," said Moore, "so there is more demand for what we do than ever before."

FELT is currently feeding over 500 of them through the backpack program each week. Bailey explained that identifying the children you want to help isn't always as easy as one might think.

"There's obviously a stigma associated with receiving help like this," said Bailey. "We want to reach as many as possible, but at the same time, we've got to be so diligent in protecting these children, who are already vulnerable, from bullying and other things they might face. It's hard enough just to be a kid day to day in this world. We definitely don't want to add to that."

Bailey explained that the organization has taken several steps over the years to make sure that participation would be anonymous, like using generic backpacks that did not stand out, and allowing the kids to take the contents of the bag and put it in their own backpack.

She also said that recent events regarding our immigration climate have caused children of immigrants who might not be documented to be reluctant to identify themselves for any sort of programs that might put their families on the radar.

Bailey and Moore said there are many ways that citizens who are interested in helping FELT can pitch in.

"Small group food drives are a big source of donations for us," said Bailey. "If you've got a small group or maybe your church or home owners association, you can organize a drive to collect single-serve food items and financial donations."

Moore explained that food drives have been very beneficial, while stressing that the impact of monetary donations is a much bigger bang for the buck.

"We certainly appreciate food drives," said Moore, "but we can do a lot more with a financial donation. By buying the items we use in bulk, we can take that dollar someone donates and turn it into nearly two, in terms of the amount of food we secure. It also allows us to purchase based on need and only get items that work well with the backpacks."

Food drives often produce items that are perishable or not of individual portions, but Moore said that all items that don't fit the scope are then donated to other organizations like the food pantry or Salvation Army.

"If we get a bulk size canned good or something that's perishable, we simply donate it someplace else where it can be used. Nothing gets wasted."

Bailey said that the organization is always in need of volunteers, as well.

"We pack the food every Friday morning during the school year from 9:30-11:30, right here at the office," she said. "We can also always use more drivers to make the drop offs at the schools."

To make ends meet, FELT relies on a couple of important fundraisers, the largest of which is its annual Golf Tournament at the Ritz Carlton. For only $125 per player, golfers can play the legendary course while helping a worthy cause. This year's event is scheduled for Monday, May 22. Click here for more information.