Hagerstown, MD – Many hunters across the country enjoy processing the deer they harvest into delicious steaks, roasts, and specialty items such as sausage and jerky at home. Many others rely on the services of local butcher shops and meat markets for their deer processing needs – locations that may be impacted this fall by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) venison donation ministry is advising hunters who plan to donate deer to any hunters for the hungry program – along with those who opt to have their own deer processed professionally – to avoid frustrating surprises by checking with their local butcher for any changes related to COVID-19.
 
“The impact of COVID-19 on some of the larger commercial processing plants in locations across the country has had a trickle-down impact on many local butchers and meat markets,” said FHFH Executive Director Josh Wilson. “There are some meat processing locations that are completely booked with livestock processing until well into the new year – and as a result some have opted to pause the deer processing portion of their business until they are caught up. With more people than usual depending on food assistance programs and ministries due to the pandemic, we are encouraging all hunters to plan ahead and make sure they can continue to donate their deer this season.”
 
While this situation is not expected to impact all areas, hunters should check with their local butcher or meat market ahead of time to become aware of any changes due to COVID-19. In the event that a location is not handling deer at all this season, it may be possible to find an alternate location for donation or custom deer processing within a reasonable distance.
 
FHFH has distributed nearly 21 million servings of nutritious meat to local food banks and ministries that serve the needy across America since 1997.​ Financial support from individuals, businesses, churches, organizations, and foundations enables FHFH to pay participating butchers a discounted rate to process and package deer and livestock donated by hunters and farmers.
 
FHFH welcomes new volunteers and financial supporters to join the cause.  Those interested in learning more can visit www.fhfh.org, call toll-free 866-438-3434, or email staff@fhfh.org for more information.

Contact: Josh Wilson - 301-739-3000 / josh@fhfh.org 

​About FHFH  -  Give Financially  -  Find a Participating Butcher
​  Start a Local Chapter  -  Partnering Sponsors

Helping Hungry Children and Their Families
 
September is Hunger Action Month and we invite you join with other Americans to fight hunger! 
 
In 2018 there were 37,227,000 people (11.5%) in America struggling with hunger and 11,174,000 (15.2%) of them were children!  
​The new school year has started. Whether children are learning online or in a classroom they all need an adequate amount of food including protein to learn and be healthy. 
​They should be focusing on learning instead of an empty stomach.
 
Hunting season begins in September in many states and it's a time when hunters and farmers can help improve the quality of life for the hungry children, their families and senior citizens in their communities by donating deer or livestock to FHFH's participating meat processors. The processed meat is distributed to local food banks, food pantries and feeding ministries who help people in need. 
 
As hunting season gets underway and donations of deer increase the need for funds increases too. FHFH pays the processing fees for deer donated to our participating meat processors so there is no cost to the hunter donating deer or to the food banks/pantries and feeding ministries who receive the much needed meat. Your tax-deductible financial support makes that possible! Your financial support can help make a positive impact on the quality of life for the children, families and senior citizens who are struggling with hunger!

You can help children to learn and thrive. Your act of kindness will make a difference to the hungry children in need and their families.

Here are ways you can get involved with FHFH and people all over the United States in the fight against hunger: 
 
You can help raise support and awareness for FHFH in the fight against hunger: 

• Give a financial gift to FHFH.
• Donate deer or livestock.
• Start an FHFH chapter in your community.
• Volunteer with an existing FHFH chapter.
• Share FHFH's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
• Have a Facebook Fundraiser.
• Shop at the FHFH online gift shop.
• Shop at Amazon Smile and select FHFH as your charitable organization. 
• Sell on Ebay for Charity.
• Give at work (CFC). 

 
Each action you take brings us a step closer to ending hunger!

Thank you for your continued interest in our mission of feeding the hungry. 

Sincerely,




​
Josh Wilson
Executive Director

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 while helping people across the nation see and understand the incredible value of the various "hunters for the hungry" programs.

“On behalf of those in our country who struggle with hunger, we thank the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund for their generosity and support of our mission to end hunger in America,” said FHFH Executive Director Josh Wilson

Guided by the visionary leadership of Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris, the Outdoor Fund empowers Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s 200 million annual 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 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 20.9 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.

​Venison Rump Roast “Deli Deer”
Submitted by Brian in Ohio
 
Remove all fat, silver skin and glands from the meat.
 
Brine*

• 1 cup water 
• 1 cup kosher salt 
• 1 cup red wine 
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup sugar  
• 1/2 cup Worcestershire
• 3 tables peppercorns 
• 3 bay leaves 

​Rub*

• 2 tablespoons course black pepper
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon sage
  
  

*Depending on size of the roast these measurements may vary

Brine the meat in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
 
Remove meat and rinse, then rub with coarse black pepper, kosher salt and sage. Wrap and refrigerate 12-24 hours.  
 
Remove wrapping from meat and smoke at 145-180 degrees until meat reaches desired degree of doneness.
 
Wrap warm in foil and chill until ready to slice.

Our communities are stronger when we join together to help each other - especially in times of hardship like we are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can make a difference to someone who is struggling to get enough to eat.  Whether you donate deer or livestock or give financially to FHFH you are a part of a generous and compassionate group of individuals who are helping their neighbors in need! Together, we can make a positive impact in our communities! 
 
Thank you for your continued interest in our mission of feeding the hungry. ​

Sincerely,


​

​
Josh Wilson
Executive Director

The Daily Sentinel in Colorado recently featured an article about Grand Junction FHFH - "Hunters Helping the Hungry Through New Program."
 
Part of the article tells how Brandon Siegfried and his friend, Grand Junction City Council member Kraig Andrews, started the Grand Junction chapter of FHFH in 2018.  It is looking to continue to expand the amount of meat it collects this hunting season so it can further supply its recipient, Catholic Outreach, which works locally to feed the hungry. Siegfried  sees the meat-donation program as a way to help out the community and advocate for hunters at the same time.

Angela Walsh, director of Catholic Outreach’s soup kitchen, praises the work Siegfried has done starting the program and growing it so quickly, including through getting the grant money this year. “The first year when he first approached us we had like no meat in the freezer and he saved the day that year for sure,” she said. “There are some times that our meat supply gets so depleted we’re scrambling for eggs or any kind of protein.”  Walsh said the game meat donations through FHFH can make a big difference.

Read the entire article.

Brandon Siegfried, Coordinator for Grand Junction FHFH, and Kraig Andrews delivered 500 pounds of beef/pork to Catholic Outreach in Colorado on August 4th. Grand Junction FHFH received a $2,000 COVID grant from FHFH national to help their local community. Orchard Mesa Market gave a much appreciated discount on the beef/pork bundle. In the photos are Brandon Siegfried, Kraig Andrews and Angela from Catholic Outreach who was very appreciative.

Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) – the venison donation ministry – received enough donations from generous hunters and farmers over the past year to provide meat for 710,544 meals to the hungry across America. Over 20.9 million servings of meat have been donated, processed and distributed through FHFH since 1997.

​Donations for 2019-2020 totaled nearly 89 tons of meat from deer, elk and livestock taken to participating local butcher shops by hunters during hunting season and by farmers over the course of the year. This also includes meat and food items donated through special projects initiated by FHFH during the COVID-19 pandemic that will continue through the summer.
 
“We had finished up another successful season helping hunters and farmers feed their hungry neighbors when COVID-19 hit,” said FHFH Executive Director Josh Wilson. “Now God is enabling us to help people impacted by reduced work schedules and job losses during the pandemic. We are so grateful for the faithfulness and generosity of everyone involved in the ministry during this time of great need!”
 
Financial support and grant funding from individuals, businesses, churches, other organizations and foundations enable FHFH to pay participating local butcher shops a discounted rate to process and package donated deer and livestock. The meat is then distributed to local food banks, feeding programs and ministries at no cost to help feed the needy of their communities.
 
​Inspired by a passion for the outdoors and compassion for the needy, FHFH is committed to addressing the problem of hunger across America. With volunteers and participating local butcher shops in over 20 states, FHFH enables hunters and farmers to provide protein-rich meat to local food banks, feeding programs and ministries in a unique and relevant way.
 
The organization welcomes new financial supporters and volunteers to join the cause. Those interested in learning more can visit www.fhfh.org, call toll-free 866-438-3434, or email staff@fhfh.org for more information about the ministry.