‘Meating’ The Need Sets New Records While Helping Others
Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank set new records in 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 and 10 swine at the Hamilton County 4-H Livestock Auction. An amazing 95 local donors helped fund this year’s Meating the Need project with more than $40,000 in donations, both new records.
The 5,135 lbs. 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 in 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.
The 19 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 20,540 meals of good, healthy protein. Donations to this program went toward 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.
The organization offered thanks to Archers Meats and Catering and This Old Farm for processing all of the animals and the Hamilton County 4-H Staff and 4-H Livestock Auction Committee who help make Meating the Need happen every year. It also thanked Kim Beaver, Mike McCloughan, and Randy and Ross Hagen who help every year with the graphics, banner and trucking and animal coordination.