News & Updates

As many Americans face growing uncertainty as SNAP benefits run out during the government shutdown, Low Country FHFH in South Carolina is stepping up to fill the gap. Hunters teamed up with Farmers & Hunters Feeding the Hungry to transform donated deer into fresh protein for families in need. A single deer can feed hundreds of people.

You can see the video about this great effort to feed the hungry HERE.

In a small Texas town, a simple lunch stop led to a powerful mission of faith and service. When Nancy Riley picked up a copy of “Christian Bowhunter Magazine” at Bumdoodlers Lunch Company in Kerrville, she discovered a ministry that connected hunting with helping the hungry. That moment sparked a partnership between the West Kerr Noon Rotary Club, the Christian Bowhunters of Texas, and Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) — a collaboration that has since provided thousands of pounds of nutritious venison to those in need, feeding both body and soul throughout the community.  Here is Nancy’s story:

In the fall of 2020, we were waiting in Line at Bumdoodlers Lunch Company in Kerrville for my lunch. Looking on the counter as I waited to order there was a Christian Bowhunter Magazine. It had a picture of a hunter on the front page with a deer that had been harvested with a bow. I decided to take a copy home to give to my brother. He had hunted with a bow in the past and I thought he might like to read the magazine.

After skimming through the magazine, as we waited for our food, we learned about The Christian Bowhunters of Texas and The Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and what they do. We thought that maybe the West Kerr Noon Rotary Club that we belonged to might be interested in being a part of what they were doing. FHFH was donating thousands of pounds of venison to feed the hungry through local food pantries. While talkng with Danny Bezet, the local FHFH coordinator, he explained how local hunters can drop off harvested deer to Bernhard’s Meat Market and that they would cover the cost of the processing at no cost to the hunter. After comparing notes of the service projects we both do, we decided to try and fill the gap in the areas of need that were being overlooked.

God is good all the time. Within a short period we donated 128 lbs. of venison. That was our first donation. It was given to the Kerr County Vet Center. That was the beginning of a great relationship of getting the venison out to the areas of need in our local area. The following week we were able to donate 140 lbs. of venison to the Doyle Community.

Our West Kerr Noon Rotary Club has been able to give to several organizations the venison that we receive from FHFH and CBT. Including The Light on the Hill, The Christian Women’s Job Corp, Hunt Methodist Church, Hill Country Veterans Center, The Croc Center, Kerrville and Ingram Fire departments to name a few. We have been blessed to donate 5,668 lbs. of venison here locally through the efforts of the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and The Christian Bowhunters of Texas. Each package of meat has the word of God on it in

Spanish and English, so the body gets what it needs through the venison and the word of God feeds the soul. Through our joined efforts we are blessed to feed the body and soul here in our local area.  Thank you and God bless.  God is still working – keep the faith!  – Nancy Riley

 
Black Fork FHFH in Ohio is excited to share that the first pick up of venison was made recently.  Bellville Neighborhood Outreach Center (BNOC) in Bellville received 106 pounds of venison. We thank Coral and her team at Ole Mill Company LLC for processing the donated deer. Thank you Tanya and all the volunteers at BNOC for getting this meat to those in need in the community. And a huge thank you to the hunters who brave the weather and have the patience to sit in the stand to give their harvest to those in need in Ashland and Richland Counties. God bless all of you for what you are doing.

FHFH welcomes new meat processors to our FHFH team and thanks them for joining us in the fight against hunger:

Deer and elk can be donated free of charge to any of the approved meat processors that participate with our FHFH ministry. CLICK HERE to find participating locations. Please field dress and check in your harvest with the state prior to donation. We’ll pay the processing bill, and the meat will be given to a local food bank or feeding ministry.

Livestock donations can also be accepted at some locations, and we can work with other processors that aren’t listed on a case by case basis. Please contact us ahead of time for livestock so we can help make the arrangements for you!

In a significant show of community support, the FirstEnergy Foundation has awarded a $20,000 grant to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH), bolstering our organization’s mission to supply high-quality protein to food-insecure families. This funding marks a deepened commitment to partnership and social responsibility in areas served by FirstEnergy. This grant will enable us to provide 36,000 servings of meat to the hungry of Maryland through our food banks and ministry distribution partners.

Protein-rich foods are among the most needed — yet most expensive — items at food banks and feeding ministries. Many people struggle not just with hunger, but with insufficient or low-quality nutrition. Meat provides essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals that support health, growth, and well-being. Grants like this one help bridge the gap between those who can donate surplus or harvested meat and those who rely on food assistance. Thanks to the partnership with the FirstEnergy Foundation, FHFH can help ensure our neighbors in need have access to a balanced and healthy diet.

Additionally, the award strengthens community ties. It encourages farmers and hunters to see their roles in alleviating hunger and supports nonprofits like FHFH to serve more people effectively. FHFH has served communities across the country for decades, distributing over 23.8 million servings of meat since 1997.

The FirstEnergy Foundation’s contributions to local nonprofit organizations help strengthen the social and economic fabric of our communities. Backed by their vision to invest in transformative organizations that enhance the vitality, sustainability and diversity of the communities they serve, they support non-profit, tax-exempt organizations within the FirstEnergy operating companies’ service areas.

FirstEnergy Foundation’s priorities are:

• Improving the quality of life in our communities and supporting key safety initiatives
• Empowering our communities’ workforce development and educational initiatives
• Promoting local and regional economic development
• Supporting employee leadership and volunteer interests that align with our business interests

Inspired by a passion for the hunt and compassion for the hungry, FHFH is committed to addressing the problem of hunger in America.  Since 1997 FHFH has provided over 23.8 million servings of meat to those in need in communities we serve nationwide.

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has awarded a $2,500 grant to support the FHFH venison donation ministry.  This funding will help FHFH pay meat processing bills to transform donated deer into nutritious meat for people struggling with hunger in Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall and Kerr County.

“Protein is often one of the most challenging items for food banks to secure due to its cost and perishability,” said FHFH Executive Director Josh Wilson. “Thanks to the support of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, FHFH can bridge this gap and help ensure our neighbors in need have access to a balanced and healthy diet.”

The Community Foundation’s mission is to foster a thriving Hill Country, inspire greater giving, celebrate legacy and heritage, and steward charitable resources for today and tomorrow. The Community Foundation works with donors, makes grants to nonprofit organizations, and awards academic scholarships to students in 10 Central Texas counties.

About FHFH – People across America who struggle with food insecurity are often desperate for meat and protein items. FHFH gives nutritious meat to local food banks, food pantries and feeding ministries that help those in need by paying inspected and approved local butcher shops to process deer and livestock that are donated by farmers and hunters. Meat for over 23.7 million meals has been donated, processed and distributed nationally by FHFH since 1997.  FHFH welcomes new supporters and volunteers to join the cause.

September is Hunger Action Month – a time when individuals, organizations, and communities across the country unite in the fight against hunger.

At Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, this month serves as a powerful reminder of why we do what we do: to transform God-given resources into life-sustaining provision for those in need.

Bowhunting seasons open in many states during September, and we’re once again inviting hunters to take action by donating deer to a hunters for the hungry program like FHFH. Your harvest can help fill the freezers – and hearts – of hungry families in your own community. Just one deer can provide over 160 servings of nutritious meat for a local food bank or feeding ministry!

Not a hunter? You can still take action this month by making a financial gift to help cover the cost of meat processing. You can also volunteer your time to help coordinate donations in your area, and most importantly, pray for our ministry as we begin this new season of service to those in need. Every act of support – big or small – helps us respond to the very real needs faced by millions of Americans struggling with hunger.

Let’s use Hunger Action Month as a rallying point. Together, through faith and compassion, we can feed the hungry and reflect the love of Christ in a practical and meaningful way. Will you join us?

The Utilities District of Western Indiana Rural Electric Membership Corporation Community Fund, Inc. has awarded a $3,000 grant to help FHFH feed the hungry of Greene County, Indiana!

FHFH has provided over 43,000 pounds of meat to local food pantries and feeding missions of Greene County since 2008 – enough meat for over 172,000 meals. This grant will help us continue providing nutritious meat to needy individuals and families over the coming year.

“Protein is often one of the most challenging items for food banks to secure due to its cost and perishability,” said FHFH Executive Director Josh Wilson. “Thanks to the support of UDWI REMC Community Fund, FHFH can bridge this gap and help ensure our neighbors in need have access to a balanced and healthy diet.”

The UDWI REMC Community Fund, a non-profit corporation created by the cooperative to distribute these funds, awards grants quarterly based on selection guidelines. UDWI launched “Operation Round Up,” an innovative program that gives members an avenue to make a tremendous difference where they live by combining their spare change for the good of their communities.

You can read more about the awarded grant and the UDWI REMC Community Fund at https://www.udwiremc.com/udwi-news/the-latest-udwi-remc-community-fund-inc-grant-to-fhfh-will-help-provide-food-for-those-in-need/

During the past year, Whitetails Unlimited granted a total of $17,800 to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry through their local chapters. This support further exemplifies the important role hunters and hunting organizations play in addressing hunger across America. As food insecurity remains a pressing issue for many households, partnerships like this demonstrate the power of collaboration in addressing hunger together.

“We’re so incredibly grateful for this continued generous support of our mission by Whitetails Unlimited,” said Josh Wilson, FHFH Executive Director. “This funding has enabled us to provide nearly 33,000 servings of nutritious meat to neighbors in need over the past year!”

Since 1982, Whitetails Unlimited has remained true to its mission and has made great strides in the field of conservation. Thanks to more than 475 chapters, 119,000-plus members, chapter volunteers, and corporate sponsors, Whitetails Unlimited has expended more than $147 million to date in support of educational programs, wildlife habitat enhancement and acquisition, and preservation of the shooting sports and hunting tradition for future generations.

We welcome Kelly Nethercutt as the coordinator for Cass and Pulaski County FHFH in Indiana.

Thank you Kelly for joining us in our mission of feeding the hungry!

You can find Kelly and the rest of our local program coordinators listed on our website HERE. We encourage you to reach out and support them!