APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – For the last two decades, ‘Hunt for Hungry’ has been keeping the coolers of Wisconsin food pantries stocked with fresh meat for families.
“Hunt for the hungry is a program where hunters can donate a whole deer to a processor or drop it off here at Paul’s Pantry or we’ll get it to a processor,” said Craig Robbins.
According to the Wisconsin DNR hunters have donated more than 90,000 deer since the program started.
Those deer have been processed into more than 3.7 million pounds of ground venison and then distributed into one-pound packages for food banks.
“Meat donations are hard to come by and it’s expensive. We do get hamburger and chicken, but if we have another option like venison it just provides more options and extra nutrition,” said Robbins.
Before donating all hunters must field dress their deer, and there’s also a list of 24 counties where deer must be tested for chronic wasting disease before it’s processed.
“These days with the CWD it’s a pretty big factor and we make sure we know where they come from. We tell the hunter right up front if we can accept them or not and as long as it’s approved we will hang it, skin it, and go through the normal process like we do,” said Peter Ellenz.
Ellenz is the owner of Cedar Creek Meat Market in Appleton and one of the places in Northeast Wisconsin that will be accepting donations through January.
“It’s an easy way for us to be a part of the community. We do so much of it so it’s the least that we can do, so as long as the hunters are willing to donate we will cut it and ship it to the places that need the food.”
To celebrate 20 years of the program all participating hunters will get a free hat for their donation.
Click here for more information.
