Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank (HCH) has sponsored its sixth 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 meal programs year-round in Hamilton County.
This year HCH purchased nine beef cattle and eight swine at the Hamilton County 4-H Livestock Auction on Tuesday, July 20.
More than 4,700 pounds of meat will supply 20 Hamilton County food pantries with farm fresh beef and pork raised by 4-H members. Meat Distribution Day is Saturday, Aug. 7. This is the fifth year that volunteers from St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Carmel will help with Meat Distribution Day.
The 16 4-H members, including 10-Year 4-H members Jenna Peterson and Andrew Holloway, designated their animals for sale to the Food Bank will be helping to feed families and children across Hamilton County with the equivalent of 18,800 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 went 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.
Thank you to Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry for donating all of the processing fees for all 17 animals and the Hamilton County 4-H staff and 4-H Livestock Auction Committee who help make Meating the Need happen every year.
HCH thanks all of the generous donors who have contributed to fully fund this year’s project.
Donors include: St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Biddle Memorial Foundation, Hamilton County Farm Bureau, David and Brenda Day, Tim and Deborah Foley, Robert and Karen Springsteen, Indy Prep – Gary and Alisha Baird, Carmel Culinary Arts, Mark and Pam Heisler, Hank and Kit Prohm, Bread of Life Pantry at Venture Christian Church, Fishers United Methodist – Come to Me Food Pantry, Arcadia Christian Church with Angels Attic and HHELP, Delaware Township Trustee, Green Valley Church of Christ, Noblesville Township Trustee, Bethel Lutheran Church, Carmel Friends Church, Shepherds Gate Pantry at St. Maria Goretti Church, Open Arms Pantry at Aroma Methodist, Sheridan Lunch Club and Sunflower Pantry at Sheridan First United Methodist, Sheridan Youth Assistance Food Pantry, MAMA’s Cupboard Food Pantry, Fall Creek Township Trustee, White River Christian Church, and Third Phase Food Pantry.
HCH welcomes donations year-round to support this initiative. Please send to HCH Food Bank, P.O. Box 881, Noblesville, IN 46061, or visit HCHFoodBank.org and designate “Meating The Need.”