Brighten Your Day

Michigan Hunters Donate Over 58,000 Lbs Of Venison To Feed The Hungry

December 10, 2019

Michigan hunters are donating an all-time record amount of venison this holiday season to feed the needy.

The outdoorsmen have donated over 58,000 pounds of venison and $100,000 to Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger, a nonprofit partnership between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Food Bank Council of Michigan, homeless shelters, food pantries, meat processors and deer hunters.

That amount of meat is enough for 232,000 meals, surpassing last year's total of 208,580 meals.

"Meat is something food banks, food pantries and shelters can never get enough of because it's so costly," said Dean Hall, executive director of Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger. "Thanks to the generosity of hunters — whether they donate several pounds or a whole deer — we're able to help fill thousands of hungry bellies every year."

Since Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger's 1991 inception, hunters have donated nearly 750,000 pounds of ground venison – enough meat to serve over 2 million meals across every region of the state.

"These donations of meat and money are some of the many ways Michigan sportsmen and sportswomen make a positive impact on the quality of life in our state," said Matt Pedigo, chair of the Michigan Wildlife Council. "Sportsmen not only help protect and enhance our beautiful forests, waters and wildlife, they often support their neighbors in need."