Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency (WIRC-CAA) is asking deer hunters to donate their deer meat to its Hunters Helping the Hungry program. Since 1986, this program has provided free deer meat to residents in need through the WIRC-CAA Food Pantry and other collaborating food pantries throughout Hancock, Henderson, McDonough, and Warren counties. In the last year, over 5,000 pounds of deer meat has been distributed to those in need of food assistance, and the reserve of deer meat is in need of replenishing for distribution throughout 2020.
Hunters can bring their deer to the following processing centers and request that it be donated to the Hunters Helping the Hungry Program. The participating lockers are: Blandinsville Locker Service, Blandinsville; Bowen Locker Service, Bowen; Bushnell Locker Service, Bushnell; Farmhouse Meat Co., Carthage; and Vancil Locker Service, Stronghurst.
WIRC-CAA Staff want to emphasize that this program would not be possible without the generosity and support of local hunters and the participating lockers. “Your generosity will help our food pantry, and the other participating food pantries in the region, provide nutrition for those who are less fortunate,” said Executive Director Shaun Pritchard.
Note that there is a limit on how much deer burger each locker can process. When that limit is reached, WIRC-CAA will not be able to pay for the processing of any additional donations of deer.
From emergency services to housing needs to educational opportunities, WIRC-CAA, based in Macomb, provides efficient and diverse human services to help individuals and families help themselves. For more information about their services and programs, visit wirpc.org, find “Western Illinois Regional Council” on Facebook, or call (309) 837-2997.
***Report Courtesy of the Western Illinois Regional Council***
