 The Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Hunters for the Hungry Program
Provides Over 400,000 Meals for Hunger Relief Agencies across the State
Thanks to Record Breaking Year
TWF’s Hunters for the Hungry Program collected and distributed over 100,000 pounds of venison to hunger relief agencies during the 2009/2010 deer season. As a result, more than 400,000 meals will be provided to individuals and families in need.
The meat collected represents a 30 percent increase over last hunting season, and an overall record of venison collected in a single season since the program began in 1995. The record breaking numbers occurred despite an overall decline in the annual deer harvest from the previous year.
"I am extremely proud to be a small part of such a wonderful program as Hunters for the Hungry,” said former UT Head Football Coach and Hunters for the Hungry spokesman Phillip Fulmer. “The significant increase of 30 percent from one year to the next is a great testament to the hearts of our state’s hunters, and to the efforts of The Tennessee Wildlife Federation and its dedicated men and women," he added.
Hunters for the Hungry teams up with hunters and deer processors to fight hunger by providing venison to food banks, church programs and soup kitchens. 70 processors in 54 Tennessee counties participated in the program during the 2009/2010 hunting season.
“We owe a sincere debt of gratitude to everyone contributing to this program,” said Michael Butler, Chief Executive Officer for TWF. “Without the support of sportsmen and women, volunteers and processors, this program would not be possible.”
“Hunters should be proud of what they did last season,” said Ken Lewis of Bridge Community Church of Jackson County. The church’s Immediate Needs Ministry saw a sharp increase of need this year over last, and the venison they received made a significant difference in their ability to help. “One family I remember in particular had not eaten in at least two days and the venison we were able to provide them made enough food to produce several days worth of complete meals, as opposed to just a few canned goods,” he continued.
Hunters contribute to the program by donating harvested deer through their local meat processor. Contributions can also be made by the “pound or pack” method, in which participating processors can accept a small portion of processed deer to be kept for pick up and distribution. The program is dependent on financial contributions to operate. Donations can be made by contributing a dollar or more when purchasing a hunting or fishing license through TWRA’s licensing system or online through the TWF website (www.tnwf.org).
“The nutritional content of venison is unparalleled in terms providing a good source of low fat, high protein meat to our constituents,” said Gail Root of Second Harvest Food Bank in Knoxville. “The 6,500 pounds of venison that we received to distribute in our area made a great impact in east Tennessee, where one in six people go to bed hungry each night.”
Approximately half of the counties involved in the program have “adopt a processor” programs set up through TWF chapters, churches, businesses and other organizations who raise funds to cover deer processing fees. Processors without funding accept deer for donation at a reduced charge to the hunter.
The 23 counties with funding provided for processing accounted for 74 percent of the total whole deer donations, with the majority of those processors in west Tennessee, according to Chad Whittenburg, Outreach Director for TWF.
“If we could raise enough funding for all of our processors, especially those in middle and east Tennessee, it could be possible to double or even triple what we have accomplished this past season,” said Whittenburg.
“It’s amazing how many individuals and groups worked to raise money for this program. Expanding our adopt a processor program and encouraging more hunters to take advantage of the liberal doe seasons to provide even more venison to those in need are our immediate goals,” he continued. |
Hunters Donate 50 Tons of Venison For Hungry Tennesseans
