Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Hunters came out in full force to harvest more than 300 deer, totaling 12,187 pounds of venison, for the 2023-2024 Illinois Deer Donation Program. The harvested deer were donated to more than 50 food pantries across a 16-county territory in
east-central Illinois, providing 48,748 meals of nutritious protein to individuals and families.
Like other groceries, the cost of meat has risen in past years and fresh (frozen) meat is not always available at food pantries. With partners and sponsors, the program provides free venison to improve food access and nutrition security.
A participating hunter shared, “I enjoy hunting and the opportunity to give back to my community is appreciated.”
“We’re so grateful to our partnering meat processors, hunters, and donors” said Michelle Fombelle, SNAP-Education Extension educator. “Without them, this program isn’t able to provide venison to hundreds of families in our local communities.”
Five Effingham county-based food pantries received a total of 2,130 pounds of ground venison from the program, including Calvary Baptist Church, Catholic Charities, Enduring Freedom Ministries, First United Methodist Church, and St. John’s Lutheran Church.
“The Illinois Deer Donation program has been a blessing to Effingham Catholic Charities food pantry. The negative impact of the rising cost of groceries has not only affected our community, but also the local food pantries. The deer meat has been a huge hit with many of the people that visit our pantry; some even ask for it specifically, when they come in,” shared Maria Kingery, Catholic Charities.
Illinois Deer Donation Program is funded in part by the Health Equity Achieved Together Project, a multi-disciplinary collaboration with University of Illinois Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education. Learn more about the program at go.illinois.edu/deerdonation and follow “Illinois Deer Donation Program” on Facebook.
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WRITER: Michelle Fombelle, SNAP-Education Extension Educator, University of Illinois Extension
ABOUT SNAP-Ed: Making healthy choices is not always easy, especially when families struggle financially. University of Illinois SNAP-Ed provides free, easy solutions to improve the health of Illinois families and communities through strategic partnerships focused on healthy eating, physical activity, and improving access to healthy foods.
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