Hunger Challenge

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s (TWF) Hunger Challenge is a point-based competition made up of school clubs that not only raise critical funds to help feed Tennesseans in crisis, but is also an educational experience for students. By participating, students gain important skills in leadership, club-building, humanitarianism, and philanthropy through a series of activities. Students earn points for their club by participating in the various activities such as volunteering, fundraising, and donating deer to Hunters for the Hungry. At the end of the Challenge, the club with the most points is named the state champion and will display the championship Hunger Bowl trophy in their school for one year. In addition, the top club in each region is named regional champion and will display the regional championship trophy in their school for one year. The state champion as well as each regional winner will be awarded a plaque to hang in the school, signifying the year that they won.

The Hunger Challenge will run from May 2016 through January 27, 2017. However, in order to make sure the processors receive the funds necessary to process the deer, the fundraising portion of the competition will run from May 2016 through December 31, 2016. All donations must be in TWF’s possession by January 4th for the points to count. Any funds turned in after January 4th will count for the next year’s challenge. Both time tables will give each club plenty of time to get involved in this year’s Hunger Challenge.

The Hunger Challenge is not only intended for school clubs to compete against one another but also for the students to get a better understanding about what hunger looks like in their community and how each student can make a difference. We strongly encourage your Hunger Challenge club to tour your local food agency by the end of September or within the first two months of establishing a club. TWF can assist in getting local agency tours set up.

Each school club is required to have an active advisor who will oversee the club. The advisor will act as the liaison between the students and TWF. A points tracker is in the back of this guidebook to keep up with the club’s points. Advisors need to update the document every two weeks, so TWF can e-mail a newsletter every month with helpful tips and updates from each school’s club. The updates will allow for clubs to know exactly where they stand in the competition. TWF wants students to have fun, compete, and learn about hunger through this friendly competition.

If you have participated in the Hunger Challenge, you will notice that this year the points system has been modified for a few activities.

The biggest change this year is that we have implemented a weighted scoring system. We now have three categories for points: Fundraising, Volunteerism, and Donated Deer. Each of these points will be a percentage of your club’s overall points.

Points Breakdown per Category:

Fundraising – 40%

Volunteerism – 30%

Deer Donations – 30%

POINTS — $1.00 = 1 point

Fundraising is a crucial element for HFTH. Like any non-profit program, HFTH requires capitol for its continued success. Funds raised will cover the processing cost of deer donated in your county. All monetary donations made to HFTH are tax deductible.

Each club is encouraged to set a goal of raising $1,000 which will provide approximately 1,800 meals.

The funds that your club raises will help support program logistics and cover the processing of donated deer. Each processor has agreed to process a donated deer for a discounted rate. When processors do not have the necessary funds for their services, the hunter is required to pay the discounted rate to donate their deer. The money raised through the Hunger Challenge will allow hunters to donate deer free of charge.

Advisors are responsible for collecting, recording, and keeping up with funds raised by the students. At the end of each week, the advisor should send the funds the club has raised to TWF. HFTH personnel will also keep a record of what money has been received.

Clubs can raise funds in multiple ways, including:

• Kickoff Sponsorship- Each club is encouraged to find a community “club sponsor(s)” that will make an early season gift. Sponsorship donations can be in any amount, ranging from $100–$1,000. Every sponsored amount will make hitting your $1,000 club goal more attainable and easier on your students.

• General Giving- Students can raise money through general giving. They can simply go out and solicit financial support from individuals or businesses. Students need to be sure to make it clear that all financial donations are tax deductible.

• Other- cookouts, carwashes, banquets, etc.

POINTS — 50 points per student, with a maximum of 500 team points per event

• The entire club does not have to be present to volunteer.

• Every volunteer activity that students participate in will need   verification from the advisor. Verification should include:

          -Date

          -Activity description

          -Time period from which students participated

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

HFTH Venison Delivery (where applicable) – Clubs can volunteer by picking up meat that has been donated to a HFTH processor and deliver it to their local food bank or pantry.

Purpose: To assist local food pantries by picking up venison from processors.

• Both the processors and food pantries really appreciate the service and it saves them valuable time.

• Clubs get a better understanding about the process of hunger relief. They get to experience the processor side as well as the distribution side by visiting the food pantries.

• Clubs MUST check with TWF before scheduling pick ups.

HFTH Display Booth – Clubs can volunteer by displaying and manning a HFTH booth at retailers or local, public events.

Purpose: To support and raise public awareness of the program.

• During this time, students are responsible for distributing information and educating the public on HFTH. Students may also want to have donation jars available to raise money for the program, earning one point for each dollar raised.

• Partner with a local processor to set up a booth at their shop.

Tour Local Food Banks and Pantries – Clubs can volunteer at their local food relief organizations, ranging from packing to serving meals.

Purpose: To provide students with a firsthand look at hunger conditions in their communities and to interact with their neighbors in crisis.

• Clubs can arrange for a behind the scenes tour of their local food pantry or food bank.

Community Presentation– Clubs can make a presentation on HFTH to groups in their communities. Presenting will both sharpen the student’s communication skills and educate people on HFTH.

Purpose: To provide a method for students to hone their public speaking skills and raise their confidence in group settings. Presenting can also educate the public about what HFTH is and ways to get involved.

• An easy-to-follow PowerPoint presentation will be provided by TWF containing talking points, visuals, and statistics.

VOLUNTEERISM CATEGORY

POINTS — 25 team points per meeting

Purpose: For students to come together and gather thoughts about club participation. Meetings should cover what students have done for the club and plan to do in the future.

• Must meet at least, but not limited to, once a month.

• Should not last more than 20 minutes unless directed by advisor.

• Meeting minutes (notes) MUST be recorded to receive points. Minutes should include:
  • Date
  • Time
  • Number of students present
  • Items discussed
  • Advisor signature

POINTS –  10 team points per post

• Students can use social media by using two hashtags:
  • #tnhfth
  • #(school name)

• Acceptable social media applications include:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Posts must include both hashtags in order to receive points.

POINTS –  100 team points per deer

Students can either donate deer to a HFTH processor or have someone else donate in their name. Processors will have a form for the student to fill out to receive credit.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of processors located throughout the state.

The Hunger Challenge is designed to be a fun and educational experience for students, but it is also a competition. Top winners will receive trophies that will be on display at their school for one year. The trophies will have the school name and winning year engraved on the front. There will be two types of awards given: team and individual. Team awards will be given to the regional winner and statewide winner. The individual awards will be given regionally.

We now have three categories for points; Fundraising, Volunteerism, and Donated Deer. Each of these points will be a percentage of your club’s overall points.

Points Breakdown per Category:

Fundraising 40%

Volunteerism 30%

Deer Donations 30%

The awards are as follows:

• Team Awards
  • State Champions: Hunger Bowl – Awarded to the state overall winner
  • Regional Awards: Silver Bowl – Awarded to each regional club winner (4)
• Individual
  • Top Gun – Awarded to the student who raises the most money in each of the four regions (4)
  • Harvester Award – Awarded to the student who donates the most deer in each of the four regions (4)

COMMUNICATION

Advisors are responsible for being the liaison between the TWF and the Hunger Challenge club. Any problem or question a student has must be voiced through the advisor.

Advisors should communicate with TWF if the club needs help in coordinating a volunteer opportunity or educational tour.

FINANCES

Advisors are responsible for collecting, recording, and keeping up with funds raised by the students. At the end of each week, the advisor should send what funds the club has raised to TWF. HFTH personnel will also keep record of what money has been received.

CLUB MEETINGS

Advisors are required to attend all club meetings to ensure students are actively participating. Advisors must collect meeting notes and approve them with a signature to receive points.

TRACK POINTS

Advisors are responsible for keeping up with the club’s points. At the end of the competition, the advisor must approve the point tracker sheet for it to be valid.

ATTEND ACTIVITIES

Advisors are encouraged, but not required, to attend club functions outside of regularly scheduled meetings. However, advisors must stay in the loop about planned activities and should know the details of each club function.

Officers

Each club is to elect a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

OFFICER DUTIES

President

• Lead the club to achieve its goals for the year

• Schedule and develop meeting agendas

• Lead the club in volunteer and service projects

• Recruit and be a voice of the club

Vice President

• Assist the president in achieving the clubs goal for the year

• Be knowledgeable of the clubs activities

• Assist the president in recruiting new members

• Work with club advisor to track all club points

Secretary

• Maintain all club records

• Record keeping and minutes of all club meetings

• Maintain membership records

• Maintain any club news and marketing information

Treasurer

• Organize all accounting and budgeting procedures for the year

• Work with advisor to track and submit all income to TWF immediately

• Maintain receipts of all club purchases and inventory

• Keep club advisor, president, and officers informed of the club’s financial records

CLUB MEETINGS

Active club members must attend all club meetings, if possible.