News & Updates

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 Western 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 23.7 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 23.7 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!

As we reach the close of the fiscal year, we are filled with gratitude for the blessings God has provided—the dedication of hunters and farmers who donate, the enthusiasm of our volunteers, participating butchers and food banks, and the faithful generosity of friends like you who make this ministry possible.

Thanks to your support and the hard work of so many, we are excited to share that this past year saw another steady increase in our annual meat donation totals. Together, we provided 161,887 pounds of nutritious meat — 647,548 meal servings — to children, families, and individuals in need. Each pound represents a tangible expression of God’s love and provision for those who are struggling.

As you know, FHFH is a unique hunger relief ministry where hunters and farmers donate deer and livestock, local participating butchers process the meat, and community food banks and feeding programs distribute it to those in need — all at no cost to the donor or recipient. Your financial gifts help cover the processing costs, allowing us to continue this important work year after year.

Food banks often tell us how much they value these donations. These testimonies remind us that what we do together through FHFH is not just filling stomachs — it’s offering hope, dignity, and a reminder of God’s great love.

As we look ahead to the upcoming hunting season, we invite you to continue standing with us. Please pray for another fruitful season of meat donations, for safety in the field, and for God’s continued provision for this ministry. With your continued partnership, we can serve even more people in the year ahead.

Thank you for helping us live out the words of Proverbs 22:9: “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” May God bless you richly for your kindness and support!

Our FHFH program was discussed on the very first episode of the new “Wild Ohio” podcast produced by the Ohio Division of Wildlife! You can check it out at one of the links below. The discussion about FHF begins at around 43 minutes, 45 seconds.

Spotify  /  Youtube  /  Apple Podcasts

We greatly appreciate the support and partnership of the Ohio Division of Wildlife as we work to enable even more hunters across the Buckeye State to donate deer for hunger relief!

Hope and Life Outreach Café (HALO) in Salisbury, Maryland shared with us the difference FHFH’s venison donations make to their organization and to people experiencing food insecurity:

“Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry has been an incredible blessing to our organization. Their generous donation of fresh venison meat to the Hope and Life Outreach Café has made a real difference in the lives of the people we serve. Thanks to their partnership, we’ve been able to provide healthy, high-protein meals to those who need it most. Their commitment to helping the community and those experiencing food insecurity is truly inspiring. We are deeply grateful for their support and the impact they are making in our community.”  

Dale Gibbs, Food Services Administrator, Hope and Life Outreach

The NRA Foundation has awarded Northwest Ohio FHFH a $5,000 grant. This generous grant support will help our ministry provide 10,000 servings of protein-rich meat to local food banks and feeding ministries, ensuring people facing food insecurity have access to essential nutrients.

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 NRA Foundation’s support, FHFH can bridge this gap and help ensure people in need have access to a balanced and healthy diet.”

About the NRA Foundation
Established in 1990, The NRA Foundation, Inc. (“NRA Foundation”) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that raises tax-deductible contributions in support of a wide range of firearm-related public interest activities of the National Rifle Association of America and other organizations that defend and foster the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans. The heart of The NRA Foundation’s mission is preserving the core of our American values and traditions in our steadfast effort to Teach Freedom.

FHFH, along with the countless individuals and families it serves, extends its heartfelt gratitude to the NRA Foundation for their commitment to supporting our mission of feeding the hungry.