News & Updates

In December we shared a story about Hunter, a young man in Ohio donating his first buck to FHFH to help others struggling with hunger. The Hendershot family was excited to learn to hunt so they could donate the meat from the deer to people in need in their community.

Hunter harvested his first deer, a buck, during gun season. His mom Melissa hunted hard and harvested her first deer, a button buck. Hunter’s dad Seth harvested his first deer, also a buck. The whole family harvested their first deer this season with the purpose of donating the deer to help those in need throughout their community.

What an amazing family! We express our gratitude to the Hendershot family for helping to feed the hungry in their community.

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 and feeding ministries while helping people across the nation see and understand the incredible value of the various “hunters for the hungry” programs.

“We are so grateful for this generous grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund,” said FHFH Executive Director Josh Wilson. “This support helps us process additional deer for the needy in underfunded areas and communities, and advocate for greater hunter awareness and participation with venison donation programs like FHFH.”

Guided by the visionary leadership of Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, the Outdoor Fund empowers Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s over 200 million passionate 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 Shops 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 22.5 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 https://feedingthehungry.org/, call toll-free 866-438-3434, or email staff@fhfh.org.

Central Indiana FHFH donated hamburger and sausage (60 pounds total) to the Bethlehem Food Pantry in Ovid, Indiana before Christmas for people in need.

Choptank Electric Trust awarded FHFH a $1,200 grant to help feed the hungry in Somerset County, Maryland.

One of the 7 Cooperative Principles of being a cooperative is Concern for Community. As a Co-op, the quality of life for their members and the community has always been at the center of what they do. Based on that Cooperative Principle, Choptank Electric Cooperative adopted Operation Round Up ® as their community assistance program in 2004.  Operated as the non-profit Choptank Electric Trust, Inc., this is a simple and rewarding way to enable members to contribute funds for local charities, needy individuals, and service organizations.

On behalf of FHFH and those in Somerset County who struggle with hunger, we thank Choptank Electric Trust for their generosity and support of our mission to end hunger.

In December, Central Indiana FHFH purchased 50 hams from the Meijer store in Noblesville and donated them to the Lapel Community Food Pantry for people in need.

We extend our gratitude to the Walmart Foundation for their continued support of our mission! Their generous Community Grants are making a profound impact on our mission to alleviate hunger in communities across the nation.

Walmart store #2233 in Frederick, Maryland awarded a $400 grant to our Frederick County, Maryland program will help us provide nutritious meat to the people struggling with hunger in the county.

We give our sincere thanks to the Walmart Foundation, the Walmart Community Grants Program, and Walmart store #2233 for their compassionate and generous commitment to our mission of feeding the hungry. Together, we are casting a vision of a brighter, hunger-free future for communities nationwide!

Tom Norman, coordinator for Wayne County FHFH in Ohio, shared this heartwarming story about a family being a blessing to people in need in their community:

A young man at our church named Hunter wanted to learn to hunt. Upon learning about FHFH, he was determined to harvest a deer to donate. He hasn’t hunted until this season and got set up on our church property in a blind for gun season. His dad Seth and mom Melissa went out with him, hunting as a family. Monday evening, the first day of hunting they had a buck present an opportunity. Coming in and stopping broadside, Hunter took his shot. He harvested his first buck with the purpose to help feed those in need.

What a blessing to see a family learning to hunt together! Seth and Melissa are also both determined to harvest a deer to donate. Melissa has even put in twelve hours a day in the blind, committed to providing meat for our community. I am so proud to call them friends and see their new passion for the hunt and for our ministry.

Their family has been through trials. Seth overcame a long battle with COVID which led to life support and forced a medical retirement. Hunter is battling glaucoma at the age of thirteen. Melissa has been blessed to find work from home so she can help care for her family.

Through these trials they choose to see blessings. They see God at work and they love and serve Him every day. They are truly an amazing family and we are so proud of them!

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore has awarded a $1,500 grant to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry in Maryland. This funding will help the organization reach its goal of providing over 10,000 servings of nutritious meat to people needing food assistance in Somerset and Wicomico Counties.

Protein and meat products are one of the top items needed by food banks. The expensive price of meat and its limited shelf life prevent it from being a readily accessible food item by food banks. The meat donated to the food banks and feeding ministries by FHFH will help provide much needed nutrition to people in need.

“Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry epitomizes coming together to help your neighbor in need,” says Josh Wilson, Executive Director. “On behalf of FHFH and those in Somerset and Wicomico County who struggle with hunger, we thank The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore for their generosity and continuing support of our mission to end hunger.”

Established in 1984, CFES is a public foundation and a 501c3 nonprofit. CFES serves Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset Counties. As leaders, grant makers, and stewards of philanthropy, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore connects people who care to causes that matter for the common good of the Lower Eastern Shore.  They are a 501c3 nonprofit with an inspiring history of fostering charitable endeavors, and have provided more than $100 million in grants and scholarships to the local community since 1984. They collaborate with individuals, families, and businesses to match their charitable interests with community needs and strengthen local nonprofits through grants and resources. They are devoted to improving their regional community and believe in the power of philanthropy.

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 the organization has provided over 22.5 million servings of meat to those in need in communities nationwide. To learn more visit FeedingtheHungry.org.

Frederick County FHFH distributed venison to the Frederick Food Bank in Maryland. About 2,100 pounds of venison were picked up by the Frederick Food Bank at our participating met processor Clint’s Cuts to help feed people struggling with hunger in Frederick County.

The Frederick Food Bank serves between 600 to 800 households each month ranging from very low-income families to moderate-income families who are facing a financial crisis and need food assistance on a regular basis.

We extend our gratitude to the Walmart Foundation for their continued support of our mission! Their generous Community Grants are making a profound impact on our mission to alleviate hunger in communities across the nation.

Walmart store #2853 in LaPlata, Maryland: A $1,000 grant for our Charles County FHFH program which will help us offer hope and sustenance to individuals and families in need in the area.

Walmart store #1716, Prince Frederick, Maryland: A $500 Walmart community grant for our Calvert County program will help us provide nutritious meat to the people struggling with hunger in the county.

Walmart store #3262 in Cambridge, Ohio: A $2,000 Walmart community grant to our Guernsey County FHFH program which will empower us to provide more meat to the people facing hunger in this region.

Walmart’s Community Grant Program embodies the spirit of giving back locally, creating a positive impact in the very neighborhoods where the stores are located. Their dedication to supporting organizations like ours is truly commendable.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Walmart Foundation, the Walmart Community Grants Program, and Walmart stores #2853, #1716 and #3262 for their compassionate and generous commitment to our mission of feeding the hungry. Together, we are casting a vision of a brighter, hunger-free future for communities nationwide!