Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank (HCH) has sponsored its third year of “Meating” The Need, a partnership between 4-H Beef, Dairy and Swine projects and the Food Bank. HCH is a non-profit organization that supports local food pantries and feeding programs year round, all here in Hamilton County.
This year, HCH purchased seven beef and seven swine at the Hamilton County 4-H Livestock Auction on Tuesday, July 24. The estimated 3,470 pounds of meat will be used to supply 20 Hamilton County food pantries with farm fresh beef and pork raised by 4-H members.
Meat Distribution Day will be Saturday, Aug. 11. The 14 4-H members who have designated their animals for sale to the Food Bank will be helping to feed those families and children in the community with the equivalent of 13,880 meals of good, healthy protein.
Protein is an item that is often missing from HCH clients’ meals and hard to provide consistently by the pantries because of cost. When beef and pork are available, the families are so appreciative. Donations to this program will go towards the appraised market purchase price of the 4-H animals and to the 4-H members as they pursue their 4-H, education and life goals.
4-H members selling their animals this year were (Beef and Dairy) Karly Dean, Zander Dean, Ross Hagen, Cade Henderson, Olivia Long, Nate Kavicky and Madeline Teal; (Swine) Beth Adams, Maggie Adams, Rachel Adams, Valerie Adams, Emily Peterson, Jenna Peterson and Ethan Zeller.
HCH thanks all the generous donors who have contributed to fully fund this year’s project. Donors include: St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, White River Christian Church, Atlanta Christian Church, Arcadia Christian Church with Angels Attic and HHELP, Green Valley Church of Christ, Hamilton County Farm Bureau, Noblesville Township Trustee, Hamilton County Beef Cattlemen’s Association, Delaware Township Trustee, Hamilton County Pork Producers, David and Brenda Day, Hull Family Farms, Midwest Financial of Fishers, Bethel Lutheran Church and Food Pantry, Bread of Life Pantry at Venture Christian Church, Open Arms Pantry at Aroma Methodist, Shepherds Gate Pantry at St. Maria Goretti, Sheridan Youth Assistance Food Pantry, Sheridan Lunch Club and Sunflower Pantry at Sheridan First United Methodist and Fall Creek Township Trustee. Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry is donating all of the processing fees for the 14 animals.
HCH welcomes donations year round to support this initiative. Please send donations to HCH Food Bank, P.O. Box 881, Noblesville, IN 46061 or visit HCHFoodBank.org and designate “Meating The Need.”