I picked up the phone at 9:00 a.m. on the morning of December 23rd. The operator asked me if I had ever received a relay call? I said,“A what?” She replied, “A TDD…that means a telecommunications device.” I was receiving a call from a hearing impaired individual during which the operator relays the information. The operator began, “I am an elderly, deaf, physically disabled woman unable to drive. I have legal custody of three very young children…and we have only enough food for two more days. Can you help us?”

This was our first year as the statewide venison donation program in Maryland. The phone in my home office had been ringing fifteen or more times a day since September 15th. When this mother from one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Baltimore called to ask for meat to feed her family, my first reaction was to say, “I’m sorry, but we provide the meat directly to other agencies like churches and food banks who feed the hungry, so I don’t have any on hand for individual requests.” I then remembered that a friend of mine named Ray Steele used to wonder if situations like these represent “tests” from God. I started thinking...God doesn’t test people like this...or does He? Regardless, I knew that my initial reaction probably wasn’t what God was looking for.

I asked the woman for her name, address and phone number and told her I would try to help. I then began wondering what we were getting ourselves into. Notice how quickly the “I” changed to “we”—meaning some unsuspecting friends were about to become involved! I called on one of our volunteers in the Baltimore area, Chuck Lewis, Sr., and asked if there was anything he could do to help—just two days before Christmas! He scratched his head and said he’d see what he could come up with. Through God’s grace, Chuck was able to locate a box of packaged venison that had gone unclaimed at a nearby butcher shop. He said he could deliver it the next afternoon…Christmas Eve. Chuck doesn’t like to talk about his trip into that dangerous, unfamiliar neighborhood, but if you press him, he will tell you that the experience brought him a lot closer to God!

Al Schlotterbeck, who has always been like a second father, has impressed upon me from my youth the importance of having a backup plan. So I called Gordon Krause, another Baltimore area volunteer. Gordon promised to provide the mother and her family with venison all winter long... and he did! Together we were able to help a neighbor in need.

Who is your neighbor?

I don’t go to bed hungry, and you probably don’t either. However, according to census statistics, 1 of 15 people live in poverty. Many must make a weekly choice between paying the rent and buying groceries. FHFH offers a unique opportunity for hunters and non-hunters to come together and feed our neighbors. However, there are many areas where FHFH hasn’t gotten underway. Please do what you can to help this young national ministry grow…

• Offer support financially by making a personal donation using the envelope included with this magazine.

• Share this program with your church, business, club, family and friends.

• If there isn’t an FHFH Chapter in your area give some thought to who might make a good Chapter Coordinator and have that individual contact us.
  
  

At Christmas and all year long we can work together to make sure one less person goes to bed hungry!

Thanks and God bless,

Rick Wilson