PROVIDING FRESH FISH TO SOUP KITCHENS
Rarely can soup kitchens afford fresh fish, even as evidence mounts of the health benefits of eating fish. Fish for Hunger connects sportsfishing/charter/party fishing boats with soup kitchens and transports surplus fish from the dock to participating soup kitchens free of charge.
MAKING GOOD USE OF FISH RESOURCES
People who operate sportsfishing vessels are sometimes troubled when customers choose to discard fish they have caught and kept and are pleased that the catch will be put to good use.
BOAT MANAGERS
Boat managers are volunteers who are on call to a fishing vessel for the season and respond when the captain or mate calls to indicate a catch is available to Fish for Hunger. The Boat manager picks up the filleted fish at the dock, pays the mate for the filleting, and transports the iced fillets to a soup kitchen which has indicated interest in fresh fish.
RECRUITING
Fish for Hunger welcomes new volunteers as boat managers, as well as the addition of new sources of fresh fish in sufficient quantity to make a pickup practical, generally 50+ lbs of fillets. Begun in 2004 in Connecticut, Fish for Hunger intends to grow as the availability of boat managers permits. There is no shortage of demand for fresh fish by the soup kitchens.
MARKETING
Any fishing vessel willing to participate will be provided with a sign for posting aboard explaining the option to customers for surplus fish. They may also choose to use the logo for marketing to groups which are specifically interested in contributing their catch to soup kitchens such as church groups and service organizations, and in their other advertising.
SPECIES
The catch will vary by season but in light of the quantities required for delivery will usually be bluefish or tuna. The cooks involved have found that bluefish is well received at their facilities when it is very fresh.
CONTACT
For more information please contact Steve at 860 295-0565, or info@fishforhunger.org.
