Our Venison Story
The voice at the end of the phone said, I’ve got something to run past you, and that was the conversation that led to the 920kg of venison meat being delivered on Tuesday 27th June.
Our goal was to support families, food banks and organisations that particularly work with families. The offer of venison meat was well received with one organisation telling us they hadn’t had meat in the freezer for months, and another sent a photo of their empty meat freezer we were told. “This was so badly needed” and they were ecstatic to receive it.
Within 24 hours 500kg had been distributed and another 200kg going within the following days. We received another message telling us if we needed extra freezer space to use theirs.
The following week the feedback started to flow: “The meat was soooo badly needed“. “I bagged it up, and it just all went!” “Thank you very much for the venison meat it was greatly appreciated and a very real blessing.” Another message thanked us for the meat saying, “It had gone down a treat.”
One food bank wrote: “Often our clients find that meat is a precious luxury for them, so to be able to provide them with lean nutritious, easy-to-cook meat, which is full of flavour and goodness means a lot. This meat has and will continue to go out to approximately 100 families in the Kaiapoi and the surrounding area. I know that recipients who have already received it are thankful.”
We had an older gentleman, a retired hunter, see the Facebook post regarding the hunt and the meat, he asked if he could have some back steak, and when he called to collect it, we had no doubt what he was having for dinner. For some, this meat sparked memories of days past, forgotten adventures, and old mates. Our older folk who didn’t have families to feed, in particular, enjoyed the little packets of back steaks, an unaffordable treat they were so grateful for.
Over the last several months we have seen a marked increase in the so-called middle income coming for food support. These are people who have never needed to ask for help before, they are generally hard-working people who have a mortgage, with young or primary school-aged families. Last week we asked the following question on the HCT Facebook page: What items are you not buying to save money in your grocery shop? 20% of respondents listed less meat as their answer. The venison you provided has allowed us to provide a good quality protein to families who may not be able to afford it or at least as often as they once did.
The venison sent a powerful statement that has reverberated throughout our communities, and like a stone skipped along on a pond the ripple effect is much wider and deeper than anybody could ever imagine. What you achieved is not only about provision, protein, food security and feeding the hungry, but the community. You have inspired others to the possibilities of what they can achieve for their communities, how to feed their families and their hungry. You have encouraged community organisations and groups to work together for the greater good. What a precious gift you have given. In a world that at times seems so dark, you have shone a light. Thank you for trusting HOPE COMMUNITY TRUST to be the distribution centre for this meat. We look forward with great anticipation to what lies ahead.
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much,” SPRING
image shot at Hope Community Trust
