In the wake of unemployment from Covid-19, more and more families are experiencing food insufficiency. Simply put, people are going hungry. Food banks are having a hard time keeping up with the need. That’s why a charity like Hunters for the Hungry is now more vital and important to support than ever.
The goal of this group is to provide essential protein-rich meat to food banks, shelters, and soup kitchens around the country. The program is supported by many gun advocacy groups including the NRA.
Created in 1991, the organization has provided millions of pounds of meat to help feed the hungry over this time. Different chapters of the charity are organized in different states.
The states that have the most donations due to the largest deer populations are Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. That doesn’t mean that other states don’t take your donations because there are chapters in each one.
At least 2.1 million pounds of meat are donated each year to create at least 8.1 million meals to needy folks and their families.
To find out where you can donate in your own state, all you have to do is go to the organization’s website and find the local contact point office. If you have friends and family who are hunters, encourage them to do the same thing by donating.
There are some details you need to know in order to donate. First of all, make sure you are hunting legally with all the correct permits. Then each of the game you catch needs to be field dressed. Some states have different requirements on how they accept donations so make sure you contact the local office to find out any specifics you may need to know.
For example, one of the links on the state map is to an organization in Ohio which routes you to the Farmers and Hunters Feed the Hungry website. They have a list of local butchers who will help prepare any deer, livestock, or elk that you want to donate.
But in any state basically the process is the same. You go hunting, find a local dropoff location to process your donation, and they will make sure that your meat gets to the right recipients at food banks and shelters. Each state has a list of the types of meat they will accept.
So many families in need appreciate the extra help and nutritional support that this lean protein provides to them along with canned goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and packaged products.
If you aren’t going to be hunting anytime soon, you can also make a monetary donation to the organization or volunteer in your state to help. Just call 1800-492-4868 or email the Hunters for the Hungry at [email protected] to find out how.