News & Updates

The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund has awarded a grant to the national Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) venison donation ministry. This funding will help FHFH pay meat processing bills to transform donated deer into nutritious meat for local food banks while helping people across the nation see and understand the incredible value of the various “hunters for the hungry” programs.

“On behalf of those in our country who struggle with hunger, we thank the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund for their generosity and support of our mission to end hunger in America,” said FHFH Executive Director Josh Wilson

Guided by the visionary leadership of Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris, the Outdoor Fund empowers Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s 200 million annual customers to support conservation efforts by rounding up their purchases. Rallying passionate customers alongside dedicated team members, industry partners and leading conservation organizations, Bass Pro is creating North America’s largest conservation movement to collectively shape the future of the outdoors and all who love it for generations to come.

About FHFH – People across America who struggle with food insecurity are often desperate for meat and protein items. FHFH gives nutritious meat to 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 20.9 million meals has been donated, processed and distributed by FHFH since 1997. The organization welcomes new supporters and volunteers to join the cause. To learn more please visit www.fhfh.org, call toll-free 866-438-3434, or email staff@fhfh.org.

The Daily Sentinel in Colorado recently featured an article about Grand Junction FHFH – “Hunters Helping the Hungry Through New Program.”
 
Part of the article tells how Brandon Siegfried and his friend, Grand Junction City Council member Kraig Andrews, started the Grand Junction chapter of FHFH in 2018.  It is looking to continue to expand the amount of meat it collects this hunting season so it can further supply its recipient, Catholic Outreach, which works locally to feed the hungry. Siegfried  sees the meat-donation program as a way to help out the community and advocate for hunters at the same time.

Angela Walsh, director of Catholic Outreach’s soup kitchen, praises the work Siegfried has done starting the program and growing it so quickly, including through getting the grant money this year. “The first year when he first approached us we had like no meat in the freezer and he saved the day that year for sure,” she said. “There are some times that our meat supply gets so depleted we’re scrambling for eggs or any kind of protein.”  Walsh said the game meat donations through FHFH can make a big difference.

Read the entire article.

It’s Summertime and Your Neighbors Are Facing Hunger 

It’s summertime and it’s very different this year. It is heartbreaking that people have lost their job or had work hours reduced due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and may not know where their next meal will come from. Many families are having to make the difficult decision of whether to pay bills or buy food.  

Millions of people across our country who never thought they would experience the hardship of struggling with hunger are turning to food banks, food pantries and feeding ministries to keep from going hungry. These programs could be their last hope of getting enough food to eat.

In the United States 1 in 9 people are struggling with hunger and no community is untouched. That’s 37,227,000 people and 11,174,000 of them are children! The statistics don’t show the faces and suffering of the people who are hungry.
 
Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry is helping to make sure people who are in need have nutritious protein.  FHFH provides hunters and farmers with the opportunity to help their hungry neighbors by donating deer or livestock to participating FHFH meat processors. The meat is then distributed to food banks, food pantries and feeding ministries.
 
Financial support enables FHFH to pay participating local butcher shops a discounted rate to process and package donated deer and livestock. As a result there is no cost to the hunter to donate deer or the farmer to donate livestock, or to the food banks, food pantries and feeding ministries who receive the much needed meat.

Our communities are stronger when we join together to help each other – especially in times of hardship like we are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can make a difference to someone who is struggling to get enough to eat.  Whether you donate deer or livestock or give financially to FHFH you are a part of a generous and compassionate group of individuals who are helping their neighbors in need! Together, we can make a positive impact in our communities! 
 
Thank you for your continued interest in our mission of feeding the hungry. ​

Sincerely,

​

​
Josh Wilson
Executive Director

​Venison Rump Roast “Deli Deer”
Submitted by Brian in Ohio
 
Remove all fat, silver skin and glands from the meat.
 
Brine*

• 1 cup water 
• 1 cup kosher salt 
• 1 cup red wine 
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup sugar  
• 1/2 cup Worcestershire
• 3 tables peppercorns 
• 3 bay leaves 

​Rub*

• 2 tablespoons course black pepper
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon sage

*Depending on size of the roast these measurements may vary

Brine the meat in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
 
Remove meat and rinse, then rub with coarse black pepper, kosher salt and sage. Wrap and refrigerate 12-24 hours.  
 
Remove wrapping from meat and smoke at 145-180 degrees until meat reaches desired degree of doneness.
 
Wrap warm in foil and chill until ready to slice.

Brandon Siegfried, Coordinator for Grand Junction FHFH, and Kraig Andrews delivered 500 pounds of beef/pork to Catholic Outreach in Colorado on August 4th. Grand Junction FHFH received a $2,000 COVID grant from FHFH national to help their local community. Orchard Mesa Market gave a much appreciated discount on the beef/pork bundle. In the photos are Brandon Siegfried, Kraig Andrews and Angela from Catholic Outreach who was very appreciative.

Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) – the venison donation ministry – received enough donations from generous hunters and farmers over the past year to provide meat for 710,544 meals to the hungry across America. Over 20.9 million servings of meat have been donated, processed and distributed through FHFH since 1997.

​Donations for 2019-2020 totaled nearly 89 tons of meat from deer, elk and livestock taken to participating local butcher shops by hunters during hunting season and by farmers over the course of the year. This also includes meat and food items donated through special projects initiated by FHFH during the COVID-19 pandemic that will continue through the summer.
 
“We had finished up another successful season helping hunters and farmers feed their hungry neighbors when COVID-19 hit,” said FHFH Executive Director Josh Wilson. “Now God is enabling us to help people impacted by reduced work schedules and job losses during the pandemic. We are so grateful for the faithfulness and generosity of everyone involved in the ministry during this time of great need!”
 
Financial support and grant funding from individuals, businesses, churches, other organizations and foundations enable FHFH to pay participating local butcher shops a discounted rate to process and package donated deer and livestock. The meat is then distributed to local food banks, feeding programs and ministries at no cost to help feed the needy of their communities.
 
​Inspired by a passion for the outdoors and compassion for the needy, FHFH is committed to addressing the problem of hunger across America. With volunteers and participating local butcher shops in over 20 states, FHFH enables hunters and farmers to provide protein-rich meat to local food banks, feeding programs and ministries in a unique and relevant way.
 
The organization welcomes new financial supporters and volunteers to join the cause. Those interested in learning more can visit www.fhfh.org, call toll-free 866-438-3434, or email staff@fhfh.org for more information about the ministry.

The Mid-Shore Community Foundation has awarded $3,000 in grant funding to FHFH for chapters serving Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties in Maryland. This funding will assist FHFH during the COVID-19 pandemic in providing approximately 4,000 servings of meat (depending on meat prices) to the food banks and feeding ministries for people in those counties.
 
We thank the Mid-Shore Community Foundation for their generosity and support of our mission to end hunger.
 
The Mid-Shore Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that connects private resources with public needs to enhance the quality of life throughout the Mid-Shore Region of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties.
 
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 20.8 million servings of meat to those in need.

Freedom from Hunger in the USA
 
Our nation cherishes God-given freedoms and defends them with strength, courage and perseverance. Together let’s help more people experience freedom from hunger! 

FHFH was founded twenty three years ago by Rick Wilson after he stopped near a gravel farm lane in Virginia to help a woman load a deer into the trunk of her car and learned she was using the deer to feed her hungry children. Since it’s founding in 1997, FHFH has provided over 20.9 million servings of meat for people in need.
 
The number of people struggling with hunger in the United States has increased due to the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and there is no community that hasn’t been affected. In 2018 there were 37,227,000 people in our country experiencing food insecurity. In 2020 the number of people facing food insecurity may have increased to 54 million because of the coronavirus. 

The impact of childhood hunger can be lifelong. Studies have shown that even mildly undernourished children may potentially suffer abnormal brain, cognitive, and psychological impairment that, if not corrected, can be irreversible. The elderly require greater consideration towards their health and medical needs that can become compromised when there is not enough food to eat.  

When people don’t have enough money to buy food they often rely on food banks, food pantries and feeding ministries. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic food banks, food pantries and feeding ministries often listed their top donation need as protein.
 
FHFH helps solve the need for protein by paying the meat processing costs for deer or livestock donated to FHFH’s participating meat processors. The processed meat is packaged and distributed at no charge to food banks, food pantries and feeding ministries to help people who don’t have enough food for their families.
 
Thank you for your continued interest in our mission of feeding the hungry. Until there is no more hunger, FHFH will continue our efforts to achieve freedom from hunger for the people in our country!

May God bless you today,
​

​

Josh Wilson
Executive Director