News & Updates

FHFH staffed a table at the September 12th Frederick, MD “In the Streets” Festival. Despite heavy rains, clearing occurred in the afternoon and allowed the ministry to be shared with many folks from the MD, PA, and WV areas.  A kids “nerf-gun” style deer shooting contest was setup allowing kids to aim and take a shot to win a lollypop. Literature and deer drop-off sites across MD were shared with adults who stopped by the table.

Hagerstown, MD — The Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) ministry handled the donation, processing and distribution of 127 tons of meat during the past year – enough to feed over one million servings to individuals, families and children in need.  Donations included deer and elk from hunters along with livestock and poultry donations from farmers. 

Since 1997 FHFH has coordinated the donation and distribution of enough meat for nearly 17 million meals to the hungry across America.   

“We are excited to have helped hunters and farmers donate over one million meals to their hungry neighbors!  The Lord has blessed us with this innovative opportunity to share nutritious meat with those who need it,” said FHFH Director Josh Wilson.  “And we are also very grateful to our financial supporters, sponsoring partners, chapter coordinators and volunteers.  Without their faithfulness and passion this work would not be possible.”

Inspired by a passion for the outdoors and compassion for the needy, FHFH is committed to addressing the problem of hunger in America.  With volunteers serving in 28 states, FHFH supports local feeding programs in a unique and relevant way.

The organization welcomes new supporters and volunteers to join the cause.  Those interested in learning more can visit www.fhfh.org, call toll-free 1-866-438-3434, or email staff@fhfh.org for more information about the ministry.

Here are five tips on how you can encourage wild birds throughout the year.

Learn the names and needs of the common birds of your neighborhood, teach your neighbors, and get involved with your local birding community.  Start with http://ebird.org/content/ebird/.

Put up a species specific and properly built bird house on your property. Manage the house and adjacent habitat so the native birds have food, water and habitat.  Start with the National Wildlife Federation Garden page.  www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Gardening-Tips/How-to-Attract-Birds-to-Your-Garden.aspx

Put up seed feeders and nectar feeders on your property – either very close or several feet away from your windows.  Start with Audubon at Home.  www.audubon.org/conservation/creating-bird-friendly-communities

Put infrared stickers or screens on windows and doors that cause window strikes.  Start with Bird Watching Daily article. www.birdwatchingdaily.com/featured-stories/15-products-that-prevent-windows-strikes/

Limit the use of lawn chemicals and pesticides in your garden – they are harmful not only to birds, but also to you, and your pets.  Start with this article from Hometalk.   www.hometalk.com/1924621/a-warning-about-lawn-chemicals-and-pets

At the Gwinnett Braves Game, July 24, 2015, Joe Schuster, Coordinator for North Georgia Foothills FHFH chapter, was presented a check on the field in the amount of $1,000.  Joe threw out the first pitch.

FHFH had an awareness table setup at the game.  Also present were Chuck Crotzer and Southers Deer Cooler (the meat processor they work with).

In the photo are (left to right): unidentified; Chuck Crotzer, Braves representative; Joe Schuster, Coordinator for North Georgia Foothills FHFH; Joe’s son Jared; and Matt Wilson, Program and Development Director

FHFH enjoyed a great couple of days right next to Christian Bowhunters of America, a partner with FHFH, at the May 2015 National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) National tournament in Louisville, Kentucky! 

Matt Wilson, FHFH Program and Development Director, had a great time at the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) National Tournament sharing how hunters “meat the need‬”!

We’ve said it before and it’s worth repeating … venison for the hungry programs like Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry provide tremendous value for the hungry of our nation, hunters, and the hunting industry.

This was affirmed at the North American Deer Summit in Louisville, KY earlier this year.  At the Summit, FHFH proposed that “promoting the value and importance of hunters feeding the hungry programs” be adopted as an action item for the newly formed National Deer Alliance (www.nationaldeeralliance.com).  This action item was approved and will be part of the work undertaken by the NDA as they “seek to ensure the future of North America’s wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting heritage.”

While attending the event, it became apparent that FHFH has an opportunity to play a major role in expanding and promoting the general “hunters feeding the hungry” movement across the nation.  To this end we have begun to rekindle and strengthen our connections with other existing venison donation programs.  We can represent them, along with FHFH, as we attend national events and interface with hunters, wildlife agencies, the media, feeding organizations, and conservation groups like the NDA.

Together we can lift up the positive image of hunters as both conservationists and humanitarians.  And we can give people a new reason to try hunting for the first time – the opportunity to help provide tens of thousands of pounds of nutritious meat from harvested game to the hungry and needy people across America!

Southwest Ohio FHFH, along with 3 other conservation groups, were recently asked to set up a booth at the Miamisburg, Ohio Field & Stream retail store and educate the public about FHFH.  They had to convince each person, via a wooden chip, that they had the best program that day.  The chips were collected in a “master vote” board with transparent tubes to monitor progress throughout the day.  At the end of the day, the group with the most chips, was awarded a $500 grant from the store!  Congratulations Southwest Ohio FHFH!

Tim Fisher’s daughter ran the Big Buck Ring Toss game (for candy prizes) for youth to interact, as they discussed FHFH’s mission with parents.  Southwest Ohio FHFH Co-Coordinators Don Boling and Tim Fisher were on hand for the event.  Co-Coordinator Don Distler was not present, but played a key roll in handling all of the paperwork for the event. 

Check out the video Southwest Ohio FHFH created of the event at https://youtu.be/ON2TaQeE8SQ

FHFH had a booth at the 2015 Ohio Deer and Turkey Expo held in March at the Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Raffles were held during the expo.  The prize drawing winners were:
Jerry S. of Millersburg, Ohio won the Bow package.  Kris and Laurie F. of Columbus chose the $250 Cabelas Gift card  in one of the Classic Raffles.  Jennifer W. of Washington Courthouse, OH chose the Thompson Center Impact in one of the Classic Raffles.  One gentleman from Wellington, OH preferred not to be identified and chose the $250 Cabelas Gift card in one of the Classic Raffles.
The other won the CVA Accura Premium Raffle package.

In the photo (left to right) are:  Tim Fisher, Co-coordinator for Southwest Ohio FHFH; classic raffle winners Kris and Laurie F.; Don Distler, Co-coordinator for Southwest Ohio FHFH; and Arthur Dunlap, Co-coordinator for Northwest Ohio FHFH.

January 16, FHFH was  awarded a $5,000 grant by the Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, Inc.  Josh Wilson, Operations Director, and John Miller, FHFH Board Member, received the check on behalf of FHFH.

Thank you Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, Inc. for supporting FHFH’s mission of feeding the hungry!