Mission Statement
Operation Heart F.E.L.T. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide nutritious meals to students and their siblings on weekends, holidays and extended school break periods. We believe that every child deserves the advantage good nutrition provides to physical, emotional and intellectual development.
There are children in Hernando County that rely on free and reduced-priced breakfast and lunch, during the school year. Operation Heart F.E.L.T. is a part of the Backpack Program designed to meet the needs of Hernando County’s hungry children during weekends and school vacations.
About the Program
There are children in Hernando County that rely on free and reduced-priced breakfast and lunch, during the school year. Operation Heart F.E.L.T. is a part of the Backpack Program designed to meet the needs of Hernando County’s hungry children during weekends and school vacations.
- Hernando Today indicated that as of January 1, 2009 there were 185 people listed as homeless in Hernando County.
- Throughout Florida, about 83,391 people are homeless on any given night.
- 90+ students identified in Hernando County as being homeless
- Affiliated with Second Harvest Food Bank of Tampa Bay—Feeding America
- 100% of all food and monetary donations go to feed the children—no administrative costs
- Volunteers shop for food, pack and deliver the backpacks
About the Program
- Backpacks filled with nutritious food children take home on weekends
- Food is child-friendly, nonperishable and easily consumed.
- Backpacks are discreetly distributed to children on the last day before the weekend, holiday season or extended school break.