News & Updates

“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   

We are now in another new year – 2017 is gone and 2018 has arrived.  Time seems to go fast when you are enjoying yourself, but when you are hungry time can seem to stand still.  Too many people in your community are wondering when they will be able to eat a meal again.  With their stomachs aching from being empty it seems so long since they last ate.  Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to the effects of not having adequate nutrition. 
 
Please, let’s not let another child or senior citizen go hungry!  You can make the new year a happier one for those who are struggling to get enough to eat!  

Your financial support enables us to pay the meat processing costs for donated deer and livestock.   Won’t you please consider making a tax-deductible financial gift today?  You can be assured your gift is well spent and you’ll know you have helped someone who is in need.  ​

$10 = meat for 20 meals
$25 = meat for 50 meals
$50 = meat for 100 meals
  
CLICK HERE to make a secure online donation.

You can also mail a donation to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry at P.O. Box 323, Williamsport, MD 21795.  If you’d like to designate your donation for a particular FHFH Chapter, please write the chapter name, code or county in the memo line of the check.
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You can donate deer or livestock.  CLICK HERE to find a participating FHFH meat processor in your area.

On behalf of FHFH and all those in our country suffering from hunger, we THANK YOU for your support!

Sincerely,
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Josh Wilson
Executive Director
Farmers & Hunters Feeding the Hungry

Kufta (kofta) with Tzatziki
by Bobbie Jo Wasilko
He Hunts She Cooks

Serves 2
Middle Eastern kufta gets a variation using bison, but any venison can be substituted to make this meat on a stick.

Prep Time – 45 min
Cook Time – 4 min

We’re going to the Middle East with Meat on a Stick Monday! I love the spices and flavors of the Middle East. With so many countries in close proximity to each other there is an overlap of cuisine. Kufta (or kofta) are little meatballs or meatloaves skewered and cooked over an open fire. Many Middle Eastern countries have their own variation of them. Greece, Iran, Israel, Turkey, Pakistan, and others usually make these little meats on a stick with lamb, and beef as well as other meats like pork or chicken. I made mine out of bison, but venison can be substituted, along with some pork fat to keep it from falling apart on the skewer.

I’ve made quick work of this recipe by using a mix of spices called “baharat” which, in Arabic means “spices.” This spice (or a blend of spices) can be found at most Middle Eastern grocery stores, but you can also make your own. The mix of spices can vary by country, but I’ve included a spice combination if you are unable to find the baharat spice. This mix of spices can also be added to oil to brush over other meats.  I made a side of cool refreshing tzatziki to temper the smokiness of the spice. Kufta (or kofta) can also be served with some pita, a light salad, and rice.

​For the Tzatziki

• 1 cup Middle Eastern yogurt ( I used Fage, but you could use any plain whole milk yogurt)
• 1 large Cucumber
• 3 tbs. Fresh Mint, julienne sliced (or 1-1/2 tbs dried mint)
• 1 tbs. Dill (not usually used, but my daughter likes it, so I added it)
• 1 tbs. Lemon Juice
• 1 tbs. Garlic Powder
• 1 tbs. Kosher Salt
• 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper

For the Kufta

• 1 lb. Venison, ground
• 4 ounces Pork Fat, ground
• 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
• 1/3 Onion, very finely minced (or grated)
• 3 tbs. Baharat Spice Blend (*or make your own from the list below)
• 4 tbs. Flat Leaf Parsley, finely chopped
• 1 tbs. Kosher Salt
• Canola Oil or Vegetable Oil, for brushing on meat

Additional Items

• Pita Pockets

Instructions

• For the Tzatziki: Make the tzatziki before making the kufta to allow the flavors to develop.
• Peel, and de-seed the cucumber.
• Dice the cucumber into very small dice and toss in a covered container.
• Add the remaining ingredients and mix, then set aside while making the kufta.

For the Kufta

• Combine the ground venison and pork fat in a large bowl.
• Mince the garlic and onion and add to the meat.
• Add the baharat spice blend.
• Finely chop the parsley and add to the meat.
• Add the salt.
• Using an ice cream scoop, portion out the meat into meatballs (you should get about ten meatballs).
• Shape the meatballs into 3 inch log shapes (or keep meatball shaped if desired).
• Place the meat logs in the fridge for about an hour to firm up.
• Very carefully skewer the meat logs onto skewers.
• Heat a grill to 400ºF.
• Brush the skewered meat with a bit of any oil.
• Place the skewered meat on the grill for 2 minutes.
• Flip the meat to the other side and grill another 2 minutes.
• Remove the meat and skewers and serve with pita bread and tzatziki.

*Baharat Spice Mix

• 3/4 tbs. black pepper
• 3/4 tbs. ground cumin
• 1/2 tbs. ground cardamom
• 1/3 tbs. ground coriander
• 1/3 tbs. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/3 tsp. nutmeg

It’s wonderful when our children want to help others in need.  These two eight-year-old children are wonderful examples of caring and sharing with others!

​Wyatt’s mom posted on FHFH’s Facebook page, “This is my eight-year- old son Wyatt.  He took his first deer with a gun on Saturday.  He donated the meat to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry.  He said our freezer was full enough and he wanted to help feed the hungry.  So proud of him!”

We’re proud of you too Wyatt!  And thank you for thinking of others and donating your deer to FHFH to feed the hungry!

Carlee Grace, the eight-year-old daughter of a long-time FHFH Chapter Coordinator in North Carolina, is an amazing young lady.  She likes the outdoors and asked her dad if she could go deer hunting with him.  After watching a young deer for about an hour she decided to take a shot and donated the deer to FHFH to feed the hungry in North Carolina. ​

As you can guess, her dad is very proud of her and so are we!  Thank you Carlee for donating your deer to FHFH to feed those in your community who are unable to get enough to eat!  ​

“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

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s more blessed to give than receive.”  Is it?  All of us have tried to find just the right gift to give someone at Christmas.  We looked forward with great anticipation to giving them the special gift.  We remembered the wonderful feeling we got when they received their gift and the joy it gave them.  We knew that it was more blessed to give than receive!
 
For most of us, Christmas is a time of joy spent with family, enjoying a meal together and exchanging gifts.  But for families who struggle all year round to get enough to eat, Christmas is especially hard.  For some, there will not only be no gifts, there will be no food for a meal Christmas day.
 
This December, you can give someone a gift that will bring great joy to their heart and make their Christmas brighter.  How?  When you donate to FHFH you are giving the gift of food to someone who is not able to get enough to eat.  Our FHFH Chapter Coordinators, the food banks/pantries and feeding ministries can tell you first hand about the joy getting a meal brings to those who are hungry.  And you will know the blessed feeling that you have given a needed and very much appreciated gift to someone who is not able to get enough to eat.

Your financial support enables us to pay the meat processing costs for donated deer and livestock. Won’t you please consider making a tax-deductible financial gift today?  You can be assured your gift is well spent and you’ll know you have helped someone who is in need.  
​
$10 = meat for 20 meals
$25 = meat for 50 meals
$50 = meat for 100 meals
  
CLICK HERE to make a secure online donation.

You can also mail a donation to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry at P.O. Box 323, Williamsport, MD 21795.  If you’d like to designate your donation for a particular FHFH Chapter, please write the chapter name, code or county in the memo line of the check.
​
On behalf of FHFH and all those in our country suffering from hunger, we THANK YOU for your donation!

FHFH was selected to receive a $1,000 gift from the FirstEnergy Foundation as part of their “12 Gifts of the Season” campaign.

The recipients were chosen secretly by FirstEnergy employees who identified organizations in their areas that do extraordinary work to make our communities better.  Their goal was to focus on programs that enhance children’s services, or provide additional support for organizations facing a critical need during the holiday season.

The FirstEnergy Foundation is funded solely by FirstEnergy Corporation and provides support to non-profit, tax-exempt health and human services agencies; educational organizations; cultural and arts programs and institutions; and civic groups in areas served by FirstEnergy’s 10 electric operating companies and in areas where the company conducts business.

Thank you FirstEnergy Foundation for supporting our mission of feeding the hungry!

FHFH welcomes the following participating meat processors: 
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• Pinhook Meats, LLC – Lucas, Ohio

CLICK HERE for a list of all participating meat processors.

Mike Marsh, Chapter Coordinator for Surry County FHFH in North Carolina, received several deer donations which provided venison to be distributed to those in need.  They also received a livestock donation which was processed by Cool Spring Meats Processing.  The beef was donated to Yoke Fellows Feeding Ministries.   

Thank you Mike for volunteering to help those in need!

Trevor, the son of one of our FHFH Chapter Coordinators in NC, got his first deer and wanted to donate it to FHFH so it will help feed someone who is hungry.  Trevor’s dad said, “Makes you think how blessed we really are and don’t even know it.”

Thank you Trevor for donating your first deer to feed the hungry in your community!

FHFH welcomes the following participating meat processors: 
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• Cool Spring Meat Processing in Elkin, NC
• Lehigh Valley Meats in Nazareth, PA

CLICK HERE for a list of all participating meat processors.