Hunting season started in October and runs through January. One Indiana non-profit, “Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry”, is looking for hunters to donate deer to help combat hunger in Indiana.
“Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry” partners with food banks and hunger relief agencies all over the state. They are partnered with 85 meat processors across Indiana to get livestock and deer meat processed to give to those agencies.
“We pay all the processing fees on these donations, so there is no cost to the donor and the meat is given to hunger relief agencies free of charge,” said Katie DeForest, the fund development director for the organization.
With meat prices rising due to inflation in the U.S., many food banks are scarce on protein to feed people in need. The organization believes protein is one of the most important things for a healthy diet.
“By giving meat to these hunger relief agencies, we are also providing a nutritional option that can help not just feed people but also make sure they have proper nutrition so our children can have full bellies and focus better,” DeForest said.
For hunters to contribute, all they have to do is hunt a deer and either donate a whole deer or however many pounds they would like. Then, go to https://www.hoosiersfeedingthehungry.org and find a participating meat processor near you to drop it off free of charge.
Not only hunters can donate but 4H members and farmers can donate livestock to the organization as well. The closest meat processor to Delaware County is FarmLand Locker, where deer can be processed and then given to food banks across Indiana.
FarmLand Locker is 25 minutes east of Muncie. Other close locations are Middletown, Connorsville and Rushtown.
“Last year we did 2,000 pounds of meat in Delaware County, and half of that was venison (deer), so, it’s really an asset to our program,” DeForest said.
If you are not a farmer, hunter or 4H member, you can still help the organization by volunteering or donating monetarily. For more information on Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, you can go to their website, https://www.hoosiersfeedingthehungry.org
Contact Terra Konieczny with questions or concerns at Tbkonieczny@bsu.edu
