News & Updates

Hunters Are Hunting Down Hunger!

“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 
  
Hunting season has begun in many parts of our country.  
​Hunters are not only providing venison to feed their own families, but they are donating deer to FHFH’s participating meat processors to help feed men, women and children who are struggling to get enough to eat.  The processed meat is then given to food banks, food pantries and feeding ministries.  But hunger isn’t seasonal – it’s all year round.  Hunting season is an important time of the year to stock up on much needed venison for the remainder of the year.

The USDA estimates that 42 million people, including 13 million children, in the United States were food insecure in 2015.  That means 1 in 8 individuals (13.4%), and 1 in  6 children (17.9%), lived in households without consistent access to adequate food.  In 2015, 5.4 million seniors struggled to afford enough to eat. (source:  Feeding America) 
 
People who are food insecure lack sustainable physical or economic access to enough safe, nutritious, and socially acceptable food for a healthy and productive life.  Protein is a vital component of a balanced diet for proper growth and good health. 
 
Food banks and other feeding programs often list meat and protein items among their top food donation needs.  The donation of fresh meat is typically less frequent than other food items, and due to the higher cost of meat, most agencies are unable to purchase sufficient quantities.  Venison is a nutritious low fat protein source.

Individuals, businesses, churches, clubs and foundations make contributions to FHFH to help cover the costs of processing, packaging and freezing the meat so there is no cost to the hunter donating the deer or to those receiving the meat. 

FHFH has provided 18.7 MILLION servings of meat to feed people struggling with hunger.  And it’s because of people like you that we have been able to do it! 
 
A thank you note we received says it well: 
“Hey guys, we can’t say enough about FHFH to our friends and fans.  Thanks for doing what you’re doing.  I was able to send a big doe your way from Ohio last night.  It’s an amazing feeling being able to donate to someone in need by doing what I love.  Hunting has always been a huge part of my life and I have passed it on to my 4 year old son (Mason).  All he wants to do is donate deer to the ‘hungry.’  When I asked why he wants to, he says, ‘It makes us heroes!’  That, to me, lets me know who I am.  Thanks again guys and we hope to send more soon.” – Elton
 
Won’t you please consider helping someone in need?  Here are some ways you can help:

​Donate deer or livestock.  CLICK HERE to find an FHFH participating meat processor. 
 
CLICK HERE to make a secure online donation.

$10 = meat for 20 meals
$25 = meat for 50 meals
$50 = meat for 100 meals  

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!

Si
ncerely,

​​

Josh Wilson
Executive Director
Farmers & Hunters Feeding the Hungry

​Gary Plum, coordinator for Gulf Coast FHFH (FL-06), was able to assist with hurricane relief efforts by using some of their chapter funding to purchase needed supplies locally at Sam’s Club for delivery to south Florida and the Florida Keys.

​Matt Coblentz, coordinator for Lehigh Valley FHFH (PA-08), had several opportunities to set up a display at their local minor league baseball stadium this year.  The team is the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.  Matt is at the FHFH display with his dad Matt Moses Coblentz.

A big thank you to the baseball team for supporting FHFH’s cause in their community!

FHFH Executive Director Josh Wilson and his family had a booth at the Country Life Fest held August 19 and 20, 2017 at the St. Mary’s County fairgrounds in Maryland.  The two-day festival focused on the great outdoors, hunting, fishing, entertainment and country living. 

FHFH had a dart gun target for kids to shoot at and gave away hats and shirts for donations of any amount. 

​Hagerstown, MD (October 12, 2017) – Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) has received a $50,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program to assist with the organization’s hunger relief effort in the state of Maryland. This grant will positively impact local communities by enabling FHFH to provide nutritious meat from donated deer and livestock to food banks and ministries that feed those in need.
 
“The Walmart Foundation is a faithful partner in our mission to help hunters and farmers address the significant hunger problem both in Maryland and across the nation,” said FHFH Executive Director Josh Wilson.  “This grant will help us provide meat for an additional 100,000 meals to the hungry of the state this hunting season.”
 
The grant check was presented by Ijaz Ahmad, Store Manager in Frederick, MD, to FHFH Executive Director Josh Wilson during a ceremony held at the Frederick Food Bank. Also in attendance were FHFH Frederick Coordinator Dave Riordan, Robin Shuff from Shuff’s Meat Market in Thurmont, MD, and Frederick Food Bank Director Sarah McAleavy.
 
“Walmart and the Walmart Foundation believe that every family should have access to affordable, nutritious food and are proud to continue expanding resources in Maryland through our work with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry,” said Ijaz Ahmad, Store Manager in Frederick, MD. “By combining the organization’s passion for the outdoors, with their compassion for those in need, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry is tackling hunger in an innovative way, helping our residents in Maryland to live better.”
 
FHFH gives hunters and farmers in Maryland the opportunity to donate deer and livestock to 38 participating butcher shops for processing and distribution to food banks, shelters, soup kitchens and ministries that feed the hungry. The organization raises financial support to pay the meat processing bills.
 
The Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program supports organizations by awarding grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S. To be considered for support, applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at www.walmartfoundation.org.
 
In FY2017, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation awarded $6,570,000 in cash and in-kind donations to Maryland charities, including 3,090,000 million pounds of food donated to local food banks, which is the equivalent of 2,578,000 meals. For more information on Walmart’s fight against hunger, visit http://foundation.walmart.com/our-focus/hunger.         
 
About Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry:
People across America who struggle with food insecurity are often desperate for meat and protein items.  FHFH gives nutritious meat to feeding programs and ministries that help those in need by paying local butcher shops to process deer and livestock that are donated by farmers and hunters.  Meat for 18.7 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.
 
About Philanthropy at Walmart:
By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. Walmart has stores in 28 countries, employing more than 2.3 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. Through our philanthropy, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are helping people live better by accelerating upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where we operate and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations or supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories training program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.  
 
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Danny’s Brownie Obsession
by Bobbie Jo Wasilko
He Hunts She Cooks

Danny is obsessed with brownies, but I don’t always have time to make them from scratch, so here is a semi-homemade version.

Brownies

• 2 Boxes Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix
• 4 Eggs
• 1 cup Vegetable Oil
• 1/2 cup Water
• 1/2 cup King Arthur Flour brand Black Cocoa (optional)

Pretzel Base

• 3 cups Mini Pretzels, crushed (Reserve some whole for plating)
• 3/4 cup Light Brown Sugar
• 3/4 cup Butter, melted
• 3/4 cup All Purpose Flour
• 1 tsp. Baking Soda

Caramel Topping for Brownies

• 1 can Nestle La Lechera Dulce De Leche (caramel)
• 5 tbs. Heavy Cream

Additional Items

• A second can of Nestle La Lechera Dulce De Leche (caramel)
• 5 additional tablespoons of heavy cream
• 1 can Redi-Whip
• 1/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Syrup
• 1 Wooden Skewer
• *Ice Cream, if desired

Instructions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

For the Pretzel Base

1. Crush pretzels in a zip lock bag
2. Pour the pretzels into a bowl and add the brown sugar, flour, baking soda and mix
3. Add the melted butter over the dry ingredients and mix
4. Pour the pretzel base into a large cake pan which has been lined with parchment paper, or greased
5. Bake the pretzel crust for about 10 minutes then remove the pan and set aside.

For the Brownie Batter

1. Make the brownies according to the box instructions and add the black cocoa to the brownie mix if using
2. Pour the brownie batter over the pre-baked pretzel crust.

For the Caramel Topping

1. Add the can of caramel to a microwave safe cup along with 5 tbs. heavy cream and heat for about 30 seconds
2. Stir the caramel and cream until the caramel is melted and loose
3. Pour the caramel over the brownie batter and swirl lightly with a butter knife to marbleize (do not over mix)
4. Place the brownies in the oven and bake 30-45 minutes (2 boxes took 45 minutes total)
5. Remove the brownies from the oven and cool completely, about 3 hours.

To Plate the Brownies

1. Grab the parchment paper and lift out the brownies, if using, otherwise leave the brownies in the pan
2. Use a 4 inch metal ring mould to cut out round brownie shape ( you may omit this step and just cut out a square) and set aside
3. Heat the second can of dulce de leche (caramel) and add 5 tbs. heavy cream and heat for about 30 seconds to loosen the caramel
4. Spoon a small circle of warm caramel in the center of a plate (about 4 tablespoons full)
5. Use the back of the spoon in the caramel to make the circle a bit larger
6. Place a large dot of Hershey’s syrup in the center of the caramel, and make 3 rings with syrup around the caramel, working from the inside to the outside
7. Use the blunt end of a wooden skewer to make small circles going around the caramel and chocolate syrup to make a marble effect in the sauces
8. Top the swirled sauces with the brownie
9. Top the brownie with Redi Whip and two miniature pretzels
10. Serve with ice cream if desired

FHFH welcomes The Chop Shop Deer Processing in Cleves, Ohio as a new participating meat processor.

CLICK HERE for a list of all participating meat processors.

The Cabela’s Outdoor Fund has awarded a grant to the national Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) venison donation ministry. This funding support will help FHFH pay the meat processing bills for donated deer and enhance the organization’s ability to train and develop volunteer coordinators in local communities across the country.
 
“On behalf of those in our country who struggle with hunger, we thank the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund for their generosity and support of our mission to end hunger in America,” said FHFH Executive Director Josh Wilson.  “We depend on an extraordinary network of volunteer chapter coordinators to help hunters feed the hungry of their communities.  This funding will help us provide them with much better training and resources to encourage and equip them for success in our mission!” 
 
Cabela’s Outdoor Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to efforts that promote and protect hunting, shooting sports, trapping, fishing, camping and conservation. This fund is possible through donations from generous Cabela’s customers who choose to “round up” their purchases to the nearest dollar at Cabela’s stores. The Cabela’s Outdoor Fund contributes to other like-minded organizations in communities across the country working to make the great outdoors even better. Visit www.cabelas.com/outdoorfund to learn more.
 
About FHFH – People across America who struggle with food insecurity are often desperate for meat and protein items.  FHFH gives nutritious meat to feeding programs and ministries that help those in need by paying local butcher shops to process deer and livestock that are donated by farmers and hunters.  Meat for 18.7 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.

​Craig Walker, Coordinator for Central Illiinois FHFH, participated in the 27th annual Deer and Turkey Expo at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois in July.

The Illinois Deer & Turkey Expo is the state’s premier expo for hunting and outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts.

We welcome to the FHFH Team… 
 
New Coordinator:

• FHFH welcomes Scott Brock as our newest Chapter Coordinator.  Scott is the Chapter Coordinator for Southwest Idaho FHFH. 

You can find Scott and the rest of our local Chapter Coordinators by CLICKING HERE.  We encourage you to reach out and support them!

New Meat Processors:
FHFH welcomes the following meat processors:

• Arnold’s Wild Game Processing – Ogden, Utah
• Nice Rack Butcher Shop – Mechanicsville, MD
• Tred Avon Deer Processing – Easton, MD
• Trophy Care Taxidermy & Deer Processing – Dundalk, MD

​CLICK HERE for a list of all participating meat processors.