How You Can Help Feed Indiana Families in Need During County Fair Season
Summertime in Indiana means the start of county fairs all across the state. Most, if not all, of these fairs, will feature cows, pigs, chickens, and other livestock raised by local young farmers competing for the coveted blue ribbon in their respective categories. Many of them won't be given much time to savor the sweet taste of victory as they'll be shipped off to slaughterhouses to provide meat for the family who raised them or be sold by those families to whoever is looking to stock their deep freeze. However, some will be donated to help feed families in Indiana struggling to put food on the table and one non-profit organization hoping you can help cover the cost of getting it done.
Hoosiers Helping the Hungry Seeking Monetary Donations to Cover Processing Fees
Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry is a non-profit organization formed over a decade ago in 2011 that encourages both hunters and farmers across the state to donate any large game, like deer, or livestock they can't or won't be using themselves to local food pantries so residents in those areas who are dealing with food insecurity for whatever reason can get the protein they need. Since its formation, the program has provided 6.1 million meals to Hoosier families thanks to the generosity of those hunters and farmers.
Food Insecurity Rate in Indiana
The rising cost of everything, including groceries, has put a pinch on many Hoosiers' bank accounts leading to some families facing food insecurity who may not have dealt with it before. To make matters worse, 47% of the approximately 726,000 Indiana residents dealing with food insecurity bring in more income than the state allows to be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) meaning they can't get any assistance from the state leaving them to try and scrambling to find a solution themselves.
But families aren't the only ones struggling. Since more people are relying on food banks and pantries, and the cost of food continues to rise, those organizations are also struggling with staying stocked with food, particularly meat which has seen a 13% increase in price since February of 2021, according to a CNBC article from April 2022 citing data from the Consumer Price Index. Which is why the need for meat is so desperately needed.
In order to help offset the cost, Hoosiers Helping the Hungry covers the processing costs for any animal designated for donation to a food bank or pantry. According to the organization, "donations of livestock from Indiana 4-H fairs alone provided over 78,000 pounds of beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and goat to local hunger relief agencies" in 2022 which provided "over 300,000 protein-packed meals served through food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens throughout the state."
How You Can Help
If you're in a situation where providing food for your own family isn't a struggle and would like to help Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry make sure those families that aren't as fortunate don't have to make the tough decision of whether to put food on the table or pay the utility bills, consider a monetary donation to the organization through their website, or by mailing a check or money order made out to Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry to the following address:
Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry
4490A State Road 327
Garrett, IN 46738
[Sources: Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry / Feeding America / CNBC]