One deer can feed up to 200 hungry people. According to national statistics, 13 million children live in households that experience hunger or are at risk of hunger, and very fifth person in a soup kitchen line is a child. Through Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH), Turk Brothers Custom Meats in Ashland, like many meat processing businesses, are helping to feed families.
Rick Wilson, Executive Director of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry knew this and was inspired to do something about it one night as he drove down a Virginia highway to meet some friends late one night in September of 1997.
He often tells the story in his outreach program of spotting a woman standing by the side of the road on that highway with the trunk of her car wide open. Reluctantly, he stopped to see if she needed assistance. As the story goes, she asked him if he would help her put a deer that had been killed and lay just off the road into her trunk so that she could feed her children. As she explained to him in that conversation, the children’s father had abandoned them and she was left to provide by whatever means she could.
The impression that woman made on Wilson never left him. In turn, it inspired him and his outreach ministry Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry was born. The organization is a non-profit and is dedicated to their mission which states:”Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry is an outreach ministry of the people of God called upon to feed venison to the hungry among us nationwide.”
The ministry partners with local certified meat processing company’s and food banks, churches and other feeding programs. As the deer population has continued to increase, a growing number of crop and property damage permits are being issued to farmers, airports, agricultural facilities and military installations. Many of the deer and game that are hunted are being discarded. With very liberal bag limits and extended hunting seasons many hunters are harvesting more deer than they can personally consume.
After following the normal check-in or crop damage permit procedures, farmers and hunters now have the opportunity to deliver harvested surplus deer to participating meat processors in their counties. They can do this at no cost as donations from churches, clubs, local businesses and private individuals cover the cost of processing, packaging and freezing the meat. The frozen meat is then available for pick-up by the local food banks and feeding programs.
Kevin Turk of Turk Brothers Custom Meats in Ashland believes the program has done a lot of good for the community. Turk Brothers is a second generation meat processor and his shop is located at 1903 Orange Road. Turk Brothers has participated in the program for the last three years.
Turk shared his thoughts about the experience saying, ”Farmers or hunters who want to donate bring in the deer and we make sure it gets to where it is needed. We give them a pin as a complimentary gift to show their support.”
Turk Brothers was started by brothers Roy Turk and Chuck Turk in 1961. The first shop was a small processing plant behind what is now Meadowbrook Trailer Court. In 1969 plans for what is now the current location began and the building completed in 1973. At first the shop was strictly custom beef and lamb but over the years has grown to include hogs, goats, buffalo, elk and wild game. As business grew, the Turks added on to the building three times. The revisions included a storage barn and two picnic pavilions.
The donated venison that is processed by Turk Brothers goes to area agencies, food banks and churches that include Pump House Ministries located at 400 Orange Street in Ashland and the Ashland Food Bank at 121 South Street in Ashland.
“What a great program it’s wonderful to be able to help those in need,” said Turk. Turk added that he feels that a lot of people are benefitting and he thinks the program could be used more because a lot of hunters are not using the meat and he would encourage them to donate to the cause.
If you are interested in donating contact your local food bank or feeding program or visit www.fhfh.org.
”Farmers or hunters who want to donate bring in the deer and we make sure it gets to where it is needed,” stated Kevin Turk.
