FHFH:

Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry

“Did you know that one deer can feed up to 200 people?

Studies estimate that 10 percent of Americans are going hungry. These families cope in emergencies by visiting food banks and pantries, emergency feeding centers and other charities, after they have exhausted their month’s groceries. As the economy slows and layoffs increase, more people with low or no incomes must depend on food donations.

Enter Maryland’s Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry Program (FHFH). Started in Maryland in 1997, FHFH is an outreach ministry of the people of God called upon to feed venison to the hungry among us. Over 2,000 deer have been donated to the program this year, which is enough meat to feed over 400,000 people – the goal in Maryland is 5,000 per year which would provide meat for a million hungry people.

These ‘little cows’ provide an abundant and nutritious source of protein desperately needed by feeding programs. From the beginning of time farmers and hunters have been the members of society called upon to provide food for others. FHFH allows hunters to return to their heritage as food providers.”

Maryland became the “first” State in the country to mandate funding for FHFH with the enactment of Senate Bill 599 during the 2002 Session of the Maryland General Assembly. Under the Act, “The Department of Natural Resources shall use $1.00 from the sale of each resident regular and full season nonresident hunting license to provide funding for the processing of deer for donation to the needy.” Moreover, Maryland’s Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. issued a Gubernatorial Proclamation designating November 2003 as “Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry Month”.

In short, FHFH wants to showcase Maryland as the model for other states to emulate in terms of dedicated funding.

To learn more about Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, contact:
Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry.

216 North Cleveland Ave.
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
301/739-3000
www.fhfh.org