Indianapolis, In. — The Schneider Foundation recently awarded Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry a grant for $1,250. These funds will help Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry pay processing fees for large game and livestock donations within Marion County for its “Meat” the Need program. The processed meat is then given to area hunger-relief agencies within Indiana.
Founded in 2011, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry is asking area hunters and farmers to take their large game or livestock to a participating meat processor. The donation will be processed, packaged and frozen at no cost (plus, farmers may write off the fair market value on their taxes). Local hunger-relief agencies will pick up and distribute this nutritious protein in the community. “We are excited about our Meat the Need program,” said Debra Treesh, Executive Director of Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, “and we’re pleased Schneider is willing to make an investment in the communities where their associates live, work and volunteer.” Schneider, a premier provider of transportation and logistics services, has one of its largest operating centers in Indianapolis.
Lack of food does not only affect the homeless or unemployed. Many hardworking Hoosiers live paycheck to paycheck, regularly having to choose between paying bills, obtaining medicine or buying groceries. In these homes, an unexpected bill (like a major car repair or medical expense) can throw an already tight budget into a downward spiral. According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap, 31 percent of working Indiana residents who are food insecure do not qualify for food-assistance programs. These residents turn to charitable food assistance networks, but the most difficult and expensive commodity for food banks to obtain is protein.
“The grant provided by the Schneider Foundation will pay to process about 1,000 pounds of donated large game and livestock, which will then be distributed to area hunger-relief agencies – providing nearly 4,000 meals to residents in need within our communities,” said Treesh. In the last seven years, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry has helped to distribute nearly 1.2 million pounds of meat to Indiana food banks, providing over 4.6 million meals to Hoosiers in need. “To date, we have 83 participating meat processors working within 85 counties in Indiana to help us in our mission and to ensure residents in need are served,” shared Amber Zecca, Fund Development Director of Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry. “In Marion County, we are partnering with Archers Meats, Gleaners Food Bank, and other local hunger-relief agencies to ensure residents have access to this nutritious protein.”
Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry is accepting donations throughout Indiana to fund its Meat the Need program, and it is continuously looking for volunteers. Information about the organization, the Meat the Need program, participating meat processors, and how to get involved may be found online here.
