More sponsors than ever push Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank’s ‘Meating the Need’ program to new heights
Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank (HCH) has sponsored its seventh 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 and eight swine at the Hamilton County 4-H Livestock Auction on Tuesday, July 19. An amazing 68 local donors helped to fully fund this year’s Meating the Need project, half of which were first-time donors sponsored through the Hamilton Reporter project.
Beef distribution to Sunflower Pantry in Sheridan on Aug. 6. (Photo provided by Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank)
The 4,692 pounds of meat supplied 23 Hamilton County food pantries with farm fresh beef and pork raised by local 4-H members. Meat Distribution Days took place on Aug 1 and 6. Once again, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Carmel, helped with distribution.
The 15 4-H members who designated their animals for sale to the Food Bank helped to feed families and children in our own community with the equivalent of 18,768 meals of good, healthy protein. 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 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 the generous donors who contributed to fully fund this year’s project. Donors include the following:
St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Biddle Memorial Foundation, Hamilton County Farm Bureau, David and Brenda Day, Gary and Barbie Vaught, Tim and Deborah Foley, Robert and Karen Springsteen, Indy Prep – Gary and Alisha Baird, Carmel Culinary Arts, Mark and Pam Heisler, George Kristo, Doug and Sunali Sweet, Hank and Kit Prohm, The Lehman Family, 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, Excel Center of Noblesville, 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, Open Doors Pantry of Westfield, MAMA’s Cupboard Food Pantry, Fall Creek Township Trustee, and White River Christian Church.
Assembling the meat boxes for distribution on Aug. 6. (Photo provided by Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank)
Additional first time donors who helped through the Hamilton County Reporter included the following:
Adler Attorneys, Atlanta New Earth Festival, Beck’s Hybrids, Breathe Easy Hamilton County, Cicero Friends of the Park, Cicero Market, Community First Bank, Congresswoman Victoria Spartz, CrossRoads Church at Westfield, Dollard Evans Whalin LLP, Duke Energy, Feeding Team, Fishers Arts Council, Friends of Fred Glynn, Gaylor Electric, Hamilton County Bicentennial, Hamilton County Parks and Recreation, Hamilton County TV, IAFF Local 4416, Jackson Township, Janet Hart Leonard, Main Street Productions, Morris Feed & Hay, Nickel Plate Express, Noblesville Lions Club, Noblesville Main Street, Prevail Inc., Randall & Roberts Funeral Home, Realtor Dani Robinson, Schwartz’s Bait & Tackle, State Senator Jim Buck/Citizens for Jim Buck, Tom Wood Volkswagen of Noblesville, Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and the Westfield Lions Club.
HCH welcomes donations year-round to support this initiative. Please mail your donation to HCH Food Bank, P.O. Box 881, Noblesville, IN 46061; or visit HCHFoodBank.org and designate “Meating The Need.”