The Edwards County Farm Bureau is encouraging its members to consider donating legally harvested deer to help provide food for families in need through the Hunters Feeding Illinois program.
The initiative allows hunters who enjoy the sport but do not need the meat to donate their deer, which will be processed into ground venison and distributed through local food pantries. The program is designed to help address food insecurity while making use of a valuable source of protein harvested by Illinois hunters. Hunters interested in participating should field dress their legally harvested deer and contact a participating meat processor as soon as possible to make sure donations are still being accepted.
Two participating processors in the area include Charlie’s Deer Processing and Smokehouse in Bridgeport, which can be reached at 618-945-3100, and Legacy Meats in Sumner, available at 618-936-4072.
Once the deer are processed, participating processors will contact the local program to arrange for the meat to be picked up and distributed to area residents in need.
The Edwards County Farm Bureau says the program provides hunters with an opportunity to give back to their communities while helping put food on the tables of local families.
Additional information about the program is available online at go.illinois.edu/HuntersFeedingIllinois.
Those interested in financially supporting the initiative can also make donations at donorbox.org/hunters-feeding-illinois.