Colorado hunters soon may be able to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina in a novel way.
Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, an organization that last year began distributing game meat to Colorado’s homeless, now has launched an effort to collect meat nationwide for those whose lives have been disrupted by the storm.
From its national headquarters in Maryland, FHFH has begun organizing a campaign to gather game meat across the country in refrigerator trucks, using state chapters such as the one begun last year in Colorado by Parker resident Gregg Kay as points of collection.
Kay estimates it will take at least a couple of months, culminating toward the end of hunting seasons in various states, to facilitate a plan that also hinges on the ultimate relocation of hurricane survivors.
Meanwhile, the Colorado partnership has begun its annual collection of meat, a program directed toward the soup kitchen operated by Denver Rescue Mission. An avid hunter and angler, Kay launched the local effort during the middle of the 2004 big game season.
“We delivered many hundreds of pounds of meat to the Rescue Mission,” said Kay, who hopes to greatly accelerate the yield this season.
Kay learned of FHFH through an e-mail exchange last year and surmised the program might function well in Colorado. “I called up and they asked me if I’d like to be the Colorado coordinator,” he said.
Kay connected with the Rescue Mission, which regularly feeds many of Denver’s homeless. The mission receives a considerable donation of food products, but very little meat, Kay said.
Hunters who wish to participate need only deliver their game carcasses to Steve’s Meat Market, 5751 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. in Arvada, 303-422-3487. FHFH pays for the processing through separate donations and distributes the meat through a team of volunteers.
When the hurricane relief plan is complete, Colorado hunters may designate their donations to be used nationally or locally. Donations are tax deductible via the website www.fhfh.org, with the stipulation that contributions should go to the Colorado chapter. Kay may be contacted directly at 303-840-9134 or 303-919-3881. Volunteers also are needed to help with the distribution.
Given the desired response, Kay plans to expand the Colorado operation to include other charities as well as to meat processing operations and distribution points in western Colorado.
Angler relief
At the same time, Boulder- based Fly Fishing Trade magazine has initiated a “Guide for the Gulf” relief effort to assist guides and commercial fishermen whose homes and businesses were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
“It’s a good way for the fishing community to help its own,” said Kirk Deeter, the publication’s editor. Local guide services are encouraged to donate the proceeds from a day on the river through www.guideforthegulf.com, a website will be in operation early next week.
This new relief organization also will make an appeal to attendees at the Fly-fishing World Trade Expo, which opens Thursday at the Colorado Convention Center.
