Local Ohio Businesses Give Back to Community
OutdoorHub 10.03.12
For the fourth consecutive year, the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce has made a $1000 donation to the Athens area chapter of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH). The donation will receive a one hundred percent match in funds from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife to provide $2,000 of aid to local food banks.
“We know that hunters are committed not only to their sport, but to the concept of giving back to those less fortunate” stated Wendy Jakmas, President of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. “On behalf of our members, we are pleased to donate to Farmers and Hunters Feed the Hungry and to show our support for the sportsmen and women who live in and travel to Athens County. It is our hope that in turn these hunters will look for the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce logo and support the businesses that so generously support the well being of Athens County families in need and this commendable initiative. ”
Monies donated to the FHFH program assist with the processing costs associated with donating venison to a food bank. Local FHFH coordinator Barbara Rountree has seen a definite difference that monetary and deer donations have made in the local community.
Last year, 154 deer were donated to the Southeast Ohio chapter of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, totaling 7,650 pounds of ground venison. Eight food pantries in Athens County received meat through this local effort.
Rountree stated, “This program is only successful because of the support and the partnerships in our community. Without any one of the hunters, food banks, food pantry volunteers, local deer processors and financial donors such as the Athens Chamber of Commerce and their members, none of this important work would be possible.”
Hunters who wish to donate their deer to the program can take their deer to a participating meat processor. The participating processor in Athens County is Wood Road Smokehouse & Deer Processing.
FHFH began in 1997 and blossomed from one Maryland County to over half of the states in the nation. Since its inception, FHFH has provided nutritious meat for millions of meals to the food banks and agencies that serve the poor across the country. FHFH is a 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Anyone interested in becoming a local Ohio FHFH coordinator or a participating meat processor should visit the “Local FHFH” page at www.fhfh.org.
