YOUR NEIGHBOR | Nancy Mazzarese

Neighborhood: Spanish Main Yacht Club
Your neighbor since: 2013

A recent transplant to Longboat Key, Nancy Mazzarese is making fast work of giving back to her new community.

After reading an article detailing a local mom-and-pop nonprofit, Mazzarese felt compelled to support its mission. The article told the story of Feeding Empty Little Tummies, an organization founded by Jane Evers with the goal of feeding homeless Manatee County school children.

“It just touched my heart,” Mazzarese said of FELT. “I can’t imagine a child not having food over the weekend. That just can’t happen. I don’t know what kind of world I thought I lived in, but the need is there. It’s real.”

Mazzarese was so inspired by the article she spoke to Pat Knudson, president of Spanish Main Yacht Club’s board of directors, to see if the association wanted to become involved.

“I knew I could do something, but I thought maybe Spanish Main would like to help, too,” Mazzarese said. “I brought it to Pat’s attention, and we started working.”

Knudson presented the idea at a board meeting and was met with immediate enthusiasm.

“Once we started collecting, every time someone went to the grocery store, they automatically picked up a bag of food for FELT,” Knudson said.

Throughout February, Spanish Main renters and owners alike donated nonperishable items — soon more than the containers in the clubhouse could hold. The food was then delivered to 16 Manatee County schools, and each Friday, students filled their backpacks with enough food for the weekend.

Although Spanish Main plans to continue its effort, organizers hope that other Longboat Key residents will join the cause.

“It was a good, good feeling knowing that we were doing something to help these children,” said Mazzarese, smiling.

Contact Kelsey Grau at [email protected]