By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Bell County Farm Bureau (CFB) recently donated 100 pounds of ground beef to help feed community members impacted by food insecurity.

The donation was made in participation with Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Farmers Feeding Families program.

Bell County Farm Bureau donated the beef to Feed My Sheep, a nonprofit organization in Temple dedicated to assisting those in need.

“There’s a huge need for donations to people who are low income or having trouble making ends meet, and Feed My Sheep helps do that,” Robert Fleming, Bell County Farm Bureau vice president, said.

Fleming and his family donated the beef from their ranch, Fleming Grain and Cattle, and TFB’s Farmers Feeding Families contributed to the processing costs.

Feed My Sheep operates by offering meals, coupled with ministry services and clothes, to those in need.

“Donations like this help keep the community going and helps not only Feed My Sheep, but it can help local churches, too,” Fleming said. “If an organization can help cover the needs of some of the families throughout their area, they possibly may take off some of the loads off the local churches.”

When Bell County Farm Bureau made the donation, the organization was down to its last 10 pounds of ground beef.

“They were almost out of ground beef when we made the donation,” Richard Cortese, Bell County Farm Bureau president, said. “You can do so many things with ground beef. You can make pasta, make hamburgers..”

Making sure families have access to protein is important to Bell County Farm Bureau.

“It’s important we help make sure they have food on their plates, and it’s important to be kind and help people who are down on their luck,” Cortese said. “We are around food all the time. We’re growing food. We should help them all we can.”

The county’s involvement in Farmers Feeding Families exemplifies a community-driven approach to addressing food insecurity. They plan to collaborate with other local ranchers and continue making a substantial difference in the lives of many within their community.

For more information about the Farmers Feeding Families program or to learn how to donate, contact your county Farm Bureau or visit texasfarmbureau.org/fff.