MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Amid the season of giving, one Manatee County nonprofit is helping the community even after unexpected damage from recent hurricanes.
What You Need To Know
- Feeding Empty Little Tummies supplies food to kids in Manatee County School District
- The nonprofit's warehouse was damaged by Hurricane Milton, and is awaiting repairs
- If you want to donate food or buy lunches for the students contact the organization F.E.L.T
- If you would like to volunteer, fill out this form
The executive director of Feeding Empty Little Tummies Jessica Ryherd says they hope to finish repairing their own damage soon.
According to Ryherd, "there's a significant amount of the roof that is missing, they're having a hard time tarping it as well. And so, the general contractors are actually starting to submit bids because the engineers just filed their report with us."
While holiday music fills hearts with cheer, in this warehouse, it's the symphony of rustling bags and bustling hands that brings joy to volunteers like Barbara Tucker.
"It's where my heart is," she said.
That joy has led her to volunteer twice a week for the last three years at the nonprofit "Feeding Empty Little Tummies"— an organization that provides food to Manatee County students in need.
This Christmas, each student will get their regular bag of food with some extra goodies inside.
But Hurricane Milton left the warehouse where they store the toys and food without parts of its roof.
"We all came the next day to help out," Tucker said. "It is so sad. But we were so blessed that we didn't lose any food during the hurricane."
While the organization is still working to repair the roof, the operation has not slowed down. Volunteers still come and students continue to receive meals.
Feeding Empty Little Tummies recently learned that 180 more students need help — which brings the total number of children they serve to more than 1,400.
"I think it's sad that we have that many kids to feed," Tucker said. "But I'm thankful that we're able to feed them."
These volunteers believe giving is a gift so that kids can have a full tummy this Christmas.
Reyherd attributes the increase in students to the impact of the hurricanes, believing that displaced families are staying in hotels.
Students will receive their food and gifts on the last day of school before Christmas break on Dec. 20.