Meating the Need sets new record thanks to 95 donors

(TOP LEFT, from left) Tom Clover, Greg Orr, Ellie Miller (10-year 4-H member), Reed Clover, and Dave Stelsel handled meat distribution at Angels’ Attic food pantry in Arcadia. (TOP RIGHT) The Excel Center in Noblesville received a distribution of beef and sausage. Pictured are Deborah Foley (left) with HCH Food Bank and Steve Dillon (right) with The Excel Center. (ABOVE LEFT) The crew with St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church of Carmel returned to assist with meat distribution. (ABOVE RIGHT) Jerry Talbert and Ellie Miller helped distribute beef and sausage to Green Valley Church of Christ Food Pantry in Noblesville. (Photos provided by Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank)

Posted By: The Reporter August 18, 2025

By ANITA HAGEN
For The Reporter

This summer, Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank (HCH) sponsored its 10th 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 10 swine at the Hamilton County 4-H Livestock Auction on July 22. An amazing 95 local donors helped fund this year’s Meating the Need project with over $40,000 in donations – both new records.

The 5,135 pounds of meat supplied 27 Hamilton County food pantries with farm-fresh beef and pork raised by local 4-H members. Meat Distribution Day was Aug 9. St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church Men’s Group, Carmel, once again helped with distribution. They were joined by 10-year 4-H Beef member and Meating the Need participant Ellie Miller, who also volunteers regularly at Angels’ Attic food pantry in Arcadia.

The 19 4-H members who designated their animals for sale to HCH helped feed families and children in our own community with the equivalent of 20,540 meals of good, healthy protein. Donations to this program went towards the appraised market purchase price of the 4-H animals, processing, and to the 4-H members as they pursue their 4-H, education, and life goals.

Thank you to Archer’s Meats and Catering and This Old Farm for processing all the animals, and to the Hamilton County 4-H Extension Staff and 4-H Livestock Auction Committee who help make Meating the Need happen every year. Thank you to Kim Beaver, Mike McCloughan, and Randy and Ross Hagen who help every year with the graphics, banner, and trucking and animal coordination.

HCH thanks all the generous donors who sent donations to fund this year’s project.

HCH welcomes donations year-round to support this initiative. Please send checks to HCH Food Bank, P.O. Box 881, Noblesville, IN 46061, or visit HCHFoodBank.org and designate “Meating The Need.”

Anita Hagen serves as the Meating the Need Coordinator for Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank. Previously, she served as the organization’s executive director, retiring from that position in March 2025.

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