Meating the Need, a joint project between Hamilton County 4-H Beef, Dairy, and Swine Projects and Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank, will provide over 2500 pounds of local beef and 450 pounds of local pork to our friends and families in need, right here in our own community. This is the second year for this joint project.
Hamilton County 4-H Swine members participating in Meating the Need 2017: Jenna Peterson, Rachel Adams, Nolan Miller, and Emily Peterson. (Photo provided)
On July 25 at the 4-H Livestock Auction the Food Bank will purchase, with help from donors all across our county, six beef and dairy cattle and five hogs from local 4-H members. Meating the Need donations go towards the sale of the animals and to the 4-H members as they pursue their 4-H, education and life goals. This year our HCH Food Bank ACTS (A Chance to Serve) youth board members have taken on Meating the Need as their main project. In their words, “We are seven-year 4-H members and Meating the Need helps provide meat for families in our own community who need it.”
The meat will be distributed to 20 pantries and feeding programs, all here in Hamilton County.
The total fundraising goal for this year is $13,250; $5,600 is still needed towards this goal. All donations welcome. Donors over $500 for beef and over $125 for pork will be recognized on our banners and press releases at the Hamilton County 4-H Fair if received by July 18.
Current donors include St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Hamilton County Beef Cattlemen’s Association, Green Valley Christian Church, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Noblesville Township Trustee, Fishers Do It Center, Midwest Financial and Ryan Fire Protection. The pantries and feeding programs who will be receiving the meat for distribution themselves have contributed close to 30 percent of the total donations. Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry will again be donating all of the meat processing costs.
Please consider a monetary donation towards Meating the Need 2017. This program helps to not only provide good healthy local protein for our most vulnerable kids and families, but it also strengthens the community partnerships between our farm families and the greater community.
Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank website, HCHFoodBank.org/Donate, has information about Meating the Need and online donations can be directed specifically to this program at HCH Food Bank/ Designate Fund Meating the Need. Check donations can be made to Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank, PO Box 881, Noblesville, IN 46061, Memo: Meating the Need.
For more information contact Anita Hagen at hamiltoncountyharvest@gmail.com.