Brian and Flint Davis display their winning catch from a March 2008 FFH tournament at Lake Blackshear. Photo by Bob Kornegay.

As a rule, it's not always easy to comprehend in a vividly realistic way the presence of hunger and human need. It can prove particularly difficult for those of us in America who've grown up leading lives far removed from the pangs of want and destitution.

For all of those lives, breakfast has been there on the table for us practically every morning upon awakening. We expect to sit down regularly to a hot lunch, either at our own table or a favorite restaurant or fast-food emporium. Dinner is almost always waiting (or at least is available) each evening after we return home from our daily workaday responsibilities. Between meals, we snack, often way too much.

Further emphasizing our love affair with food and its expected availability are recent statistics pointing out that Georgia's present adult obesity rate is more than 25 percent and rising. Yes, from most folks' perspective, hunger is difficult to fathom.

Despite our overall complacency, however, the reality is arguably quite different: Just question Georgia's food-bank administrators and volunteers, or ask the people who staff the soup kitchens and work to provide meals for others through various food charities, churches and humanitarian concerns. They'll tell you that scores of people wake up hungry every morning and, likewise, go to bed hungry every night, our country's reputation as a land of plenty notwithstanding.

Though many citizens continue to turn the proverbial blind eye to this problem, others who truly know the score dedicate their time to combating domestic hunger. And, wouldn't you just know it, despite the negativism their segment of society is often subjected to, hunters and anglers have been in the vanguard when it comes to extending a helping hand.

In Georgia today, two sportsmen-oriented organizations have assumed responsibility for bringing countless nourishing hot meals to people in need each year. Georgia Hunters for the Hungry and Fishermen for the Hungry have since inception (1993 and 1999, respectively) gone above and beyond in their efforts to put food on the tables of those who need it most.

Cordele's Dewey Mitchell is affectionately described by friends and associates as a "naturally charitable" individual; he also happens to be an avid largemouth fisherman and a longtime devotee of the competitive world of tournament angling. Back in 1999, he hit upon the idea of combining his love of bass angling with his penchant for helping the needy. His brainchild soon evolved into FFH, a southwest Georgia regional bass tournament organization that to date has deposited roughly $8.5 million in money and foodstuffs into the coffers of various food banks for local, state and national distribution.

"Hunger and malnutrition in Georgia and all over the country are more prevalent than you might think," Mitchell said. "They're truly a blight on our society. Fishermen for the Hungry's sole purpose is to do all it can to combat them. This is what we're all about, 100 percent."

Others involved agree. "Our organization is entirely centered around providing food for the needy," added Michael "Bobcat" Williams, a teacher at Blakely's Early County High School and former outdoor television host who serves on the FFH board of directors and donates much of his time annually to the group's bass tournament operations. "Every profit dollar generated by our tournaments and all corporate-donated food items go directly to food banks. Our official policy is to take care of our local food bank first, then see that surpluses reach other food banks statewide, regionally, and nationally, on an as-needed basis. Our bass tournament trail is the primary vehicle for generating needed donations and, just as important, raising awareness of the hunger problem and getting our message out."