By Heather Collins
Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank and the local 4-H members are joining forces to provide local pantries with much needed protein.
“Protein is an item that is often missing from our clients’ meals and hard to provide consistently by the pantries because of cost,” said Anita Hagen, executive director of the Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank.
Hagen said the families that utilize the food bank are so appreciative when beef and pork are in stock. She said local 4-H members told her that it is special to them to have their animals and hard work go back into the community.
The organization hopes to raise $13,000 this year and have already raised $12,000 toward its goal. The donations will be used for purchasing beef and dairy steers and hogs at the Hamilton County 4-H Fair and go toward the 4-H members and programs. Hagen said more than 30 percent of the donations are contributed by the local Hamilton County pantries themselves.
The 4-H Beef and Pork program is special to Hagen. Her son is a 4-H member, and Hagen also participated in the program. She said she knows from experience there is a lot of love and hard work that the 4-H members put into their projects.
The partnership between Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank and 4-H launched last year. The organization delivered 2,227 pounds of ground beef to 21 pantries last August. This year, the HCH Food Bank ACTS (A Chance to Serve) youth board members have taken on Meating the Need as their main project.
For information, visit HCHFoodBank.org/donate. Check donations can be made to Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank, PO Box 881, Noblesville IN 46061 with the memo: Meating the Need
