LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Hunters in Indiana are being asked to donate from their deer harvest to help state food banks.
In a release, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters about Indiana Hunt for Hunger. The reminder comes as deer firearms hunting season begins and the need for protein donations remains strong across the state.
Updated this year with a new name and website, Indiana Hunt for Hunger turns donated deer into healthy venison that is provided to Hoosiers through food banks across the state.
The program, previously called the Sportsmen’s Benevolence Fund, was started by the Indiana DNR and its partners in 2008. Since then, it has grown across the state to collect thousands of deer donations, providing hundreds of thousands of meals for Hoosiers.
"Too many Hoosiers are struggling to put food on the table. Our member food banks around the state are serving record numbers of families," said Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, in a release.
"Items like protein can be unaffordable on a tight household budget, creating a high demand for it at our food banks. By hunters taking an extra deer and donating it through Hunt for Hunger, Hoosier food banks and pantries will have more healthy protein to share with our friends and neighbors this deer season," she said.
Here’s how Hunt for Hunger works. Hunters take their field-dressed harvested deer to one of more than 50 participating meat processing sites across the state. The processor takes it from there, processing the meat into healthy venison burgers and donating it to area food banks. Indiana Hunt for Hunger pays the processing fees, so there is no extra cost to the hunter.
A single deer can provide 200 meals for a family. To date, more than 500,000 pounds of venison has been shared through the program.
There are at least three deer processing locations in southern Indiana that participate in Indiana Hunt for Hunger:
- First Capitol Meat Processing, LLC
- 420 Higdon Street
- Corydon, IN 47112
- fcmcorydon@gmail.com
- 812-738 - 0175
- Lyndels Processing
- 2320 E US Hwy 150
- Paoli IN 47454
- 812-723-4058
- Merkley and Sons Packing Company, Inc.
- 3994 W 180 N.
- Jasper, IN 47546
- 812-482-7020
- Beef; pork; Deer - summer sausage only (must be deboned).
A complete list of participating vendors is posted at on.IN.gov/huntforhunger. Processors interested in joining the list can contact Capt. Jet Quillen at jquillen@dnr.IN.gov or 317-232-0658 for more information.
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