The Community Foundation of Jackson County recently awarded the Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry’s “Meat” the Need program a $1,500 grant.
“The grant provided by the Community Foundation will pay for approximately 1,150 pounds of donated large game and livestock in Jackson County, which will then be distributed to area hunger-relief agencies — providing over 4,600 meals to residents in need within this community,” said Deb Treesh, executive director of Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry.
The grant was one of 19 awarded during the foundation’s fall grant cycle to help support efforts to improve the lives of those living in the community.
The grants are funded with earnings from the foundation’s unrestricted and field of interest funds.
Founded in 2011, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry encourages the donation of large game and livestock to it “Meat” the Need program, raises financial support to pay processing fees on these donations and gives the nutritious meat to hunger-relief agencies within Indiana.
Hunters and farmers may donate at no cost to them (and farmers may write off fair market value on taxes) by taking large game or livestock to a participating meat processor in their area. The donation will be processed, packaged in 1- to 2-pound packages and frozen or canned.
Local hunger-relief agencies will be contacted for pickup and distribution of the protein back into the community in which it was donated. The individuals and families that Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry serves are reached through food banks and other hunger-relief agencies whose services are strictly for low-income and poor populations.
Even as the economy is improving, many hardworking Hoosiers are still living paycheck to paycheck.
Indiana residents who must regularly choose between paying bills and buying groceries continue to struggle to stay afloat but become even more in debt.
In Indiana, approximately one of every four households with children reports an inability to afford enough food to feed their family. Those affected by food insecurity are often at high risk for obesity and diet-related diseases due to the lack of quality in the foods that they can afford.
Protein,
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For information about Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, visit hoosiersfeedingthehungry.org.
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