In midst of all of the bad pandemic news, it’s a good time to “look for the helpers.” Being a part of the sportsmen community, we’re all called to and hopefully taking advantage of the outdoors, but are we called to be “helpers?” The team at Hunters For The Hungry hears great stories of fishing guides and individuals who are giving away their catch to food banks or families in need. If you find yourself in the same situation, we ask that you give it a try too. Call your local food bank to find out which shelters or kitchens you could provide for. They all need your donations right now, and no amount of food is too large or too small to be accepted.
Just last week, a group of men from Swollfest Fishing Rodeo delivered 50 pounds of elk meat to Hunters for the Hungry, and with the help of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, it was delivered to The Church Men’s Shelter in Donaldsonville. The Shelter is one of the Bank’s agencies, and at the time, they needed it most, but it changes every day throughout the state. Even though Hunters for the Hungry is based in Baton Rouge, they work with all 5 major food banks and their agencies across Louisiana, and their mission is to encourage hunters and fishermen to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors by sharing their bounty of wild game and fish to combat hunger.
With the unfortunate toll the restaurant industry has taken recently, Sysco (a global food service company) had an abundant supply of protein. They called Hunters for the Hungry to make sure it wouldn’t go unused and contributed over 6,975 pounds of meat via truck delivery to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, helping them to serve over 5,500 meals.
“I have to admit, there have been some tough days and more will come, but it’s moments like this, where we can provide for those in need of our product, that change the perspective,” says Galyn Frank, Regional Sales Manager at Sysco New Orleans.
“We feed the hungry in an 11-parish area so a donation like this will go a long way. We are grateful for Sysco’s generosity and to Hunters For The Hungry for making this happen,” says Mike Manning, President and Chief Executive Officer of Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.
If you aren’t able to donate at the time, mark your calendars for September 20 when Hunters For The Hungry hosts its annual “Clean Out Your Freezer Day.” To learn more about donating or the Freshly Harvested Game and Fish Programs, visit www.h4hla.org. If you don’t have an overstocked freezer at the moment but still want to help fight hunger, monetary donations are accepted at www.h4la.org or by checking “yes” to donate to the organization when you purchase your Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries license. Your funds will help cover the costs of processing donated game, and as a 501c3 organization, your donation is tax deductible.
