HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — When it comes to kids and child hunger, Pattie Stepbach has a sensitive place in her heart. 

“It’s just unfathomable for me to think that we have as many children in our district that are food insecure, and it's the way all over the world,” Stepbach told Bay News 9’s Katya Guillaume. 

Stepbach is the founder of Operation Heart F.E.L.T. in Hernando County. She opened her doors 12 years ago and it’s the only one of its kind. 

Operation Heart F.E.L.T. served six families and nine children in its inaugural year. Years later and thanks to donors, Stepbach and her volunteer team serve over 260,000 meals a year. 

Her passion goes way back to when she was a teacher in South Boston Virginia in the 1960’s.

“There were a lot of my kids who didn’t have a means by which to have food all the time,” she said, “so I would keep food in my desk, I’ve always done that. We’ve got to stop moving forward to help not have to have this facility to help kids, how do we do that?”

Operation Heart F.E.L.T. relies strictly on donations. Earlier this month, they received a $5,000 donation.

“The special thanks go out to Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance Company for selecting Killingsworth Agency which is the plaza that we’re in right now and Operation Heart F.E.L.T to receive the 2021 Make it Happen Award,” she said. 

They’ve received this award in the past. She said even though the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop on fundraisers, they were still able to feed kids in need. 

Through the help of social media, they were able to double the $5,000 donation to ensure they keep the shelves stocked. 

“It’s our job as citizens to make sure our children can make it in this world and if hunger is an issue, I think we can all pull together and help,” Stepbach. 

The organization provides a backpack with perishable items that gets delivered at Hernando County schools. 

What makes this unique is that Ms Pattie or her volunteers, do not know who receives each bag.

Stepbach said, “I don’t want to know what the parents do, I don’t want to know who the kids are. So we keep their privacy very secure, which is why you don’t see any kids here.” 

She added that it doesn’t matter who they are, she believes feeding empty tummies has a direct impact on how a child performs in the classroom.         

For more information on Operation Heart F.E.L.T., click here.