Hunters Supply Food Banks as the Need Grows

Hard-pressed charities welcome protein as they face reduced shortages

By Lucas Laursen, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 30, 2007 10:50 PM CST

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Hunters Supply Food Banks as the Need Grows — In this photo provided by Frank Moran, Moran is seen with the deer he killed while hunting in eastern Montana on Nov. 21. Moran took the deer to a meat processor, paid $70 for butchering and then returned home to Sacramento, Calif. When the venison had been ground and wrapped, it went into a freezer... (Associated Press)

Food banks facing shortages are welcoming game meat from hunters. Using the meat isn’t new, but this year the need is greater, as charities report more clients and reductions in their supplies, reports AP. One food bank in Montana received 7,500 pounds of game in 2006 and nearly as much this year. That figure included six elk killed illegally and confiscated by game officers.

"High-protein foods are the hardest foods for our food banks to come by," said one administrator. Donated game must be from a legal hunt, no money can change hands, and the game ends up as ground meat. "We can't really give steaks to one family and ribs to someone else," noted a food-bank manager. (More food banks stories.)

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