By AMBER ZECCA
Community Development Director, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County REMC Operation Round Up has awarded Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry $5,000 for its “Meat” the Need program. These funds will be used to assist Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry in paying processing fees for approximately 3,700 pounds of donated meat in Kosciusko County, which will then be distributed to area hunger relief agencies, providing almost 15,000 meals to residents in need. 

Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry encourages the donation of large game and livestock to our “Meat” the Need program. Hunters and farmers wishing to donate may do so by contacting a participating meat processor in their area and taking the large game or livestock in for processing. There is no charge to donors. The butcher will process, package, and freeze the meat. Local hunger relief agencies will be contacted for pick up and distribution of this nutritious protein back into the community in which it was donated, where funding is available. To date, we have 90 participating meat processors working in 85 counties in Indiana. We will be working Bales Butcher Shop, Five Oaks LLC, and the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, to ensure Kosciusko County residents and hunger relief agencies have access to this nutritious meat.

Our goal is to provide nutritious meat to hunger relief agencies within Indiana to help build stronger, healthier communities by helping to meet the basic needs within each community, getting them back on track to hunger-free, independent living. We would like to help improve the general health of individuals/families in need by working to provide them with this nutritious source of protein for a healthier, more balanced diet. In the last five years, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry have helped to distribute over 572,000 pounds of meat to Indiana food banks, providing almost 2.3 million meals to Hoosiers in need.

For more information on the Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry program, its services and to find participating meat processors in your area, or to find out how you can help, please visit the website.