Caught too many fish? Donate and feed the hungry

 Non-profit organization Fillet for Friends helps provide meals on reels.

The bonds that bring boaters and anglers together are tight, as are the lines on the members and volunteers who donate their time and energy to the Fillet for Friends (FFF) organization. FFF is a 501(c)(3) certified nonprofit that was created in 2014 by then high-schoolers Harrison Konsker and Maccabee Herman that aligns the talents of local fishermen with the needs of local food banks.

Beyond the classroom, these avid anglers were on the water every weekend catching their recreational bag limits time after time. The boys came to realize that they could offer up their catch to those who needed it most. “We realized that what was a great day on the water for us could be a meal on the table for someone else. Fillet for Friends is about turning abundance into impact and making sure fresh, high-quality food doesn’t go to waste when families need it most.” 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

FFF regularly attends fishing tournaments throughout the state to collect and process the surplus of fresh fish. FFF also works with individual anglers across Florida to donate their fish. Fishermen are able to contact FFF through a variety of outlets including emails, texts, or the contact page featured on the website. 

After reaching out, the angler’s fish will be scheduled to be picked up, from there the FFF team fillets, packages, and delivers your catch to a local food bank of choice. Following this process, every donation will receive a confirmation ensuring that their catch was delivered respectively.​

A HACCP-certified volunteer processes and ensures that each fish follows FFF’s specific safety and quality guidelines. As we focus on delivering quality, nutritious meat to food-insecure families throughout Florida. It is of utmost importance that each fish harvested is humanely killed and taken with respect, and concern to its environmental impacts. For hunters, FFF now also collects and donates legally and humanely harvested excess game meats such as deer, hog, ducks, geese, etc. The same high standards apply and a HACCP-certified volunteer approves the quality of the meat before donation.

WANT TO DONATE OR VOLUNTEER?

FFF makes it incredibly easy to participate in their organization through an assortment of activities, whether you prefer catching and donating, driving deliveries to headquarters, or putting your knife filleting skills to the test. You can also simply make a financial donation. Over 250 volunteers work with FFF, donate your fish or game or become part of the volunteer team. Learn more at www.Filletforfriends.org