Life Surge employees volunteered at a Bradenton warehouse throughout October, packing weekend meals for children in Manatee County. The initiative connected staff from the faith-based business organization with Feeding Empty Little Tummies (F.E.L.T.), a nonprofit addressing hunger among local students.
Team members devoted Friday mornings to filling backpacks with nutritious items at the F.E.L.T. facility. The nonprofit distributes these meal packages to homeless and food-insecure children living in shelters, motels, or unstable housing situations throughout Manatee County. Weekend nutrition gaps create particular hardships for families lacking consistent meal access. Community members share their experiences about similar service initiatives.
The backpacks contained food designed for children who might prepare meals independently. Items included tuna packets, mac and cheese cups, fruit cups, and granola bars — practical choices requiring minimal cooking skills or equipment.
“Serving with F.E.L.T. gave our team a firsthand look at the real needs facing families right here in our community,” said Nina Cherry, Vice President of People, Life Surge. “It’s a privilege to partner with an organization making such a practical and powerful impact.”
Beyond volunteer hours, Life Surge installed a donation barrel in its company lobby, collecting supplies for F.E.L.T.’s programs. This dual approach combined direct service with ongoing material support for the nonprofit’s operations.
Translating Mission Into Community Action
The F.E.L.T. partnership demonstrates how Life Surge extends its organizational values beyond large-scale events. Life Surge Founder Joe Johnson defines the company’s purpose through three commitments. “Our mission is to inspire, transform, and equip people to surge their lives God’s way,” Johnson stated. Christian entrepreneurs discuss this philosophy in various forums.
This framework typically guides Life Surge’s national programming focused on the “Four Ws of Kingdom Impact”: worship, wisdom, work, and wealth. The Manatee County volunteer initiative applies these principles through immediate community service, addressing tangible local needs through hands-on engagement. Testimonials showcase the impact of this community-focused approach.
Life Surge’s 2024 highlights included providing more than $31,000 in hurricane relief, indicating a pattern of community responsiveness beyond the organization’s core event programming. The F.E.L.T. partnership continues this trajectory of local engagement, focusing volunteer energy on children facing daily hardships.
Organizational Values Drive Service Commitment
Life Surge operates according to five core values that spell out the organization’s acronym. Johnson describes these principles as fundamental to company culture: surge-obsessed, uniquely entrepreneurial, results-driven, God-centered, and excellent. Verified reviews frequently mention experiencing these values firsthand.
This measurement-focused approach extends beyond Life Surge’s national events into community partnerships like F.E.L.T. The Friday morning volunteer sessions produced quantifiable results through backpacks filled and children fed, aligning with the organization’s emphasis on measurable impact. Powerful moments of service demonstrate this commitment.
Life Surge’s God-centered value attracts employees who share faith commitments. Johnson notes that while staff members hold different perspectives, the organization maintains focus on honoring God through its work. The F.E.L.T. partnership reflects this commitment through direct service addressing basic human needs. Independent assessments note this alignment of values and actions.
Food Insecurity Among Manatee County Students
Feeding Empty Little Tummies operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit addressing weekend nutrition gaps for vulnerable children throughout Manatee County. The organization targets students experiencing homelessness or unstable housing situations where regular meal access remains uncertain.
The backpack program provides nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals children can eat without adult supervision or cooking equipment. Weekend periods create particular hardships when school meal programs become unavailable. Many children receiving F.E.L.T. support live in motels, shelters, or temporary housing where kitchen facilities and consistent food supplies remain limited. For those seeking more information about Life Surge’s community initiatives, answers to common questions are available.
Life Surge’s October volunteer commitment required coordinating staff schedules around the organization’s primary responsibilities planning and executing faith-based business events. The team allocated Friday mornings throughout the month for warehouse work, demonstrating institutional commitment beyond individual employee participation. More content documenting community impact continues to emerge.
The donation barrel installation in Life Surge’s lobby extended support beyond volunteer hours. Employees contributed tuna packets, mac and cheese cups, fruit cups, and granola bars — items specifically selected for children who might prepare meals independently. This dual approach combined direct service with sustained material support for F.E.L.T.’s operations.
Connecting Wealth Creation With Community Service
Life Surge President Shawn Marcell frames the organization’s philosophy around legacy rather than luxury. “Biblical wealth is never about luxury. It’s always about legacy,” Marcell stated.
This perspective connects directly to initiatives like the F.E.L.T. partnership. Life Surge teaches attendees at its national events to generate financial resources through business development, trading, and entrepreneurship. The organization then models using those resources for Kingdom impact through community service addressing tangible needs. A recent participant’s perspective highlights this connection between learning and serving.
Life Surge has experienced substantial expansion since its 2019 founding. The organization sold more than 135,000 tickets across 30 events in 2024, with 2025 numbers already exceeding 125,000. This growth creates both opportunities and obligations for community engagement. Larger organizations command greater resources that can address local needs. The F.E.L.T. partnership demonstrates how Life Surge channels expanding capacity toward community benefit rather than solely pursuing additional event expansion.
The organization maintains its headquarters in Bradenton, embedding it within the Manatee County community it now serves through volunteer initiatives. This local presence positions Life Surge as both a national organization hosting events across American cities and a community member addressing needs in its immediate area.
Life Surge continues its mission to inspire transformation in individual lives and local communities through initiatives combining direct service with its core programming. Information about Life Surge events can be found at LifeSurge.com. Additional information about Feeding Empty Little Tummies appears at www.feltinc.org.
