News Release, Office of the Comptroller of Maryland
Heart F.E.L.T. ministry battling childhood food insecurity honored
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (July 13, 2020) — Comptroller Peter Franchot has virtually presented the annual William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award for Calvert County to Heart F.E.L.T. (Filling Empty Little Tummies). Founder Jack Woodford, who is widely known as “Little Jack,” accepted on behalf of the outreach ministry that provides evening, weekend and holiday meals to food insecure children in the county.
As a child, Woodford was no stranger to food insecurity. It was the kindness of neighbors that helped his family survive after his father’s debilitating stroke. In 2012, he was inspired to pay it forward and worked with his church, Trinity United Methodist in Prince Frederick to establish Heart F.E.L.T. and supply meals to food insecure children, embodying the principles that Schaefer, the late Baltimore City mayor, Maryland governor and comptroller, held dear.
Since the program’s inception, 20 Calvert County churches have partnered with more than 20 elementary and middle schools to supply meals to children in need. Additionally, Heart F.E.L.T. provides winter coats, food baskets and Christmas presents to children and their families each December, fulfilling Woodford’s motto that you have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.
Since 2012, Comptroller Franchot has annually traveled to each of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions to honor an individual or organization serving their community. This year, all Schaefer Award presentations will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual press releases will be sent announcing each of the honorees, along with a link to view the virtual ceremony.
