Anglers and Hunters feeding families in need

OFAH FILE: 842
March 27, 2012

Anglers and Hunters feeding families in need
First OFAH Food Share Drive overwhelming success

Anglers and hunters are grateful for the harvest they bring home to the family table, and in former times, have shared that bounty of healthy meat and fish with food banks across North America. Today, food banks in Ontario will not accept game or fish due to Ontario’s meat regulations. In order to continue to contribute to those families in need, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters hosted a food drive as part of their annual conference, which was held from March 15 to March 17 in Mississauga.

“Many of our members have expressed disappointment in not being able to donate nutritious and delicious game to their local food banks due to provincial meat regulations. We wanted to give hunters and anglers the opportunity to express their gratitude for the food that they are able to eat and to share with their friends and family, and we settled on a food drive,” said Mike Reader, OFAH Executive Director.

The OFAH estimates that approximately 1,000 pounds of canned and nonperishable goods were donated during the conference, as well as grocery cards. The food and cards were turned over to Kawartha Food Share for distribution in the Peterborough area, and as Kawartha Food Share is a member of the Ontario Association of Food Banks, any surplus food at one member agency is distributed to another, ensuring that no food is wasted.

Kawartha Food Share Warehouse Manager John Alleyne thanked OFAH members for their generosity. “This time of year we really feel the pinch because donations slow down with the good weather. The food that you are providing will help us to keep the doors of the food bank open and provide an emergency source of food throughout Peterborough and Peterborough County.”

Kawartha Food Share Warehouse Manager John Alleyne (center) accepts donations, collected at the 84th OFAH Conference, from OFAH Executive Director Mike Reader (right) and OFAH Executive Manager Angelo Lombardo

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 675 member clubs, the OFAH is the province’s largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization, and the VOICE of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org or follow the OFAH on Facebook and Twitter.

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