News & Updates

We received a note of thanks from someone in need who received venison donated by FHFH:

“We got our Thanksgiving venison from a local church.  We loved it and it was really good.  We were very thankful for what you do for your community and us.  You made us happy.”

Because of your donations of deer and financial gifts to FHFH they had food to be thankful for at Thanksgiving!  We thank you for helping us make it possible.

Venison Barley Stew
By Bobbie Jo Wasilko
He Hunts She Cooks
Serves 6

A hearty stew for hearty appetites and cold weather! 
I have everything in this stew but the kitchen sink. 
​A dollop of horseradish cream and hot homemade bread makes this dish complete.
 
Ingredients:

• 2-1/2 pounds venison shoulder, cut into 1 inch pieces (substitute elk, moose, caribou, antelope, or bear)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, cubed
• 1 celery stalk, cubed
• 1 leek, white and light green parts only, chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbs. tomato paste
• 2 tbs. anchovy paste
• 1 tbs. garlic powder
• 1 tbs. onion powder
• 1 tbs. Kosher salt
• 1 tbs. fresh cracked pepper
• 5 fresh thyme sprigs, leaves only
• 2 bay leaves
• 1-14 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 9 cups venison or beef stock ( I used 5 tbs. More Than gourmet venison Demi-Glace mixed with 9 cups water)
• 1 cup Pinot Noir red wine (cheap stuff will do)
• 1/2 cup pearl barley, uncooked
• 7 honey gold potatoes, skin on cubed, placed in a bowl of cold water until ready to use (keeps them from turning brown)
• 1/2 cup frozen petit white corn
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 2 cups chopped kale
• Canola oil or grape seed oil for sautéing

Instructions:

1.Cut shoulder meat into 1 inch pieces, season with salt and pepper and sit aside while prepping other ingredients

2.Heat a large soup pot with a few tablespoons of oil and heat on medium-high

3.Add the pieces of meat, a few at a time to the pot and brown (don’t over crowd the meat)

4.Remove the browned pieces to a bowl

5.Continue adding the meat, a few at a time until the pieces are browned

6.Add a bit more oil if needed and add the onion, carrot, celery, and leeks, and minced garlic and sauté for 5 minutes

7.Add the meat back to the pot with the vegetables

8.Add the tomato paste, anchovy paste, garlic powder, onion powder, Kosher salt, pepper, thyme leaves, bay leaves, crushed tomatoes (with juice), venison (or beef) stock, and red wine

9.Bring the pot to a boil, then turn down to low heat

10.Partially cover the pot with a lid and keep on a very low simmer for about 2-3 hours

11.Once the meat is becoming tender, add the pearl barley and simmer another 1-2 hours, stirring on occasion so the barley doesn’t lump up or stick to the bottom of the pot

12.Turn the heat to medium-high and add the potatoes, corn, peas, and kale and cook until potatoes are fork tender

13.Mix a few tablespoons prepared horseradish with 3 tbs. cream and top with soup if desired

Notes:
This stew can be canned in a pressure canner for longer shelf life… although it tastes so good, it will be a challenge to keep on a shelf!!

Shepherds Christian Assembly in Coshocton, Ohio appreciates the venison donated to their ministry by Coshocton County FHFH (OH-10).  They served venison/sausage meatloaf at their community meal on Thanksgiving. They also serve a free lunch on Tuesdays, an evening meal after Bible study on Wednesday evenings, a meal after their Friday evening service, and lunch on Sunday after the morning service for those in attendance. Shepherds Christian Assembly serves about 19,000 meals a year!  They have various organizations that donate food and supplies to the Lord’s ministry. With the deer burger donated by FHFH they make chili, sloppy joes, tacos, meatloaf and anything else they can think of.  They also give venison burger to people to take home and cook. Shepherds Christian Assembly is in their 14th year of ministry in Coshocton. They said Dewy Thompson, Chapter Coordinator of Coshocton County FHFH, has been a blessing to them.
 

The Cambridge Walmart store recently donated $1,000 to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) to help pay for the processing of meat to be distributed locally to those in need. Donated deer and large farm animals are taken to FHFH participating meat processors where they are butchered and packaged for distribution by local food pantries. More information about FHFH, a national organization to help feed the hungry, can be found at fhfh.org.

What a donation to be thankful for! Over 4,400 pounds of fresh venison was donated by the USDA Wildlife Services in November 2019 to Lehigh Valley FHFH (PA-08) and Everlasting LIFE Ministries, Inc.  Everlasting Life Ministries filled more than six large freezers with this donation! This provides them with months worth of meat to hand out! This is a blessing to them and the families that they feed on a weekly basis. God provides!

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ….”  Matthew 25:35   

The Gift

​Christmas is usually a happy time, with a break from the day-to-day routine, meals with loved ones and gifts. Unfortunately, hunger doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas. 
​There are more than 40 MILLION men, women and children in our country who are food insecure – they are not getting enough to eat. For them, Christmas Day comes with a lot of stress and heartache instead of happiness. It’s hard to celebrate when you don’t know when your next meal will be and your stomach is empty and aching. No one should be hungry – especially at Christmas!

Sincerely,
​

​Josh Wilson
Executive Director

Walmart store #1674,17850 Garland Groh Boulevard, Hagerstown, MD awarded Western Maryland FHFH a $2,500 local community grant.  The funding will help provide meat to those in need in Washington County, MD.

Walmart’s Community Grant Program is proud to support the needs of their communities by providing grants to local organizations.  They believe in giving back locally – creating a positive impact in the neighborhoods where they live and work.

We thank the Walmart Foundation, Walmart Community Grants Program and Walmart store #1674 for their generous support of our mission of feeding the hungry!

Chad in Ohio shared with us that his daughter Lizzie donated her first deer to FHFH!  Lizzie has been hunting for three years and it has been her wish to donate her first deer to FHFH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH Lizzie for donating your deer to help feed the people ​in your community struggling with hunger!

Walmart store #1716, 150 Solomans Island Road, Prince Frederick, MD awarded FHFH a $1,000 local community grant.  The funding will help provide meat to those in need in Calvert County, MD.

Walmart’s Community Grant Program is proud to support the needs of their communities by providing grants to local organizations.  They believe in giving back locally – creating a positive impact in the neighborhoods where they live and work.

We thank the Walmart Foundation, Walmart Community Grants Program and Walmart store #1716 for their generous support of our mission of feeding the hungry!

BIG HOLIDAY SALE!  20% OFF and FREE SHIPPING on ALL ITEMS during December.  Find great Christmas gifts for hunters at FHFH’s online gift shop!

​​Your purchase supports our mission to help hunters and farmers donate nutritious meat to feed the hungry.