Missouri hunters encouraged to donate deer to help feed families facing hunger
SIKESTON, Mo. (KBSI) – As deer hunting season gets underway in Missouri, Southeast Missouri Food Bank is encouraging hunters to donate their harvest to help provide nutritious meals for families facing food insecurity.
Through the statewide Share the Harvest program, hunters can donate deer to participating meat processors, where the venison is prepared and distributed to food banks and food pantries.
The program aims to collect 6,500 donated deer across Missouri this season.
According to Southeast Missouri Food Bank, protein is one of the most requested food items but also one of the most expensive and difficult to obtain consistently.
Donated venison provides a source of lean protein for families, children and seniors who may otherwise struggle to access nutritious food.
“Healthy protein is one of the hardest things for us to source consistently. The venison donated through Share the Harvest helps fill an important need,” said Joey Keys, president and CEO of Southeast Missouri Food Bank. “It’s nutritious, it’s a great source of protein, and it allows us to provide food to families who might not otherwise have access to it.”
Share the Harvest has operated for more than 30 years through a partnership involving the Missouri Department of Conservation, Conservation Federation of Missouri, Missouri Association of Meat Processors and Feeding Missouri.
The program allows hunters to donate whole, field-dressed deer at approved processing locations at no cost. Processing expenses are covered through program funding and sponsors.
This year, organizers are testing new ways to make donations more convenient.
In Cape Girardeau County, Biester’s Meats in Jackson has introduced an after-hours cooler where hunters can drop off deer donations outside regular business hours.
Hunters must first Telecheck and field dress their deer, complete the required donation tag and follow posted instructions at the location.
The cooler is available throughout the hunting season, allowing hunters to donate at any time.
According to the food bank, all venison donated through Biester’s Meats will remain in the local community to help residents facing hunger.
The initiative comes as Southeast Missouri continues to experience some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the state.
According to Southeast Missouri Food Bank, one in five individuals, one in four children and one in eight seniors in the region live in households experiencing food insecurity.
The organization also reports that Missouri’s six most food-insecure counties are located in Southeast Missouri.
Southeast Missouri Food Bank serves residents across 16 counties through a network of 140 partner agencies and direct-service programs.
Its services include food pantries, mobile food distributions, meal programs and assistance for seniors and children.
The organization provides monthly food boxes to approximately 5,600 seniors and weekend food backpacks to 1,100 students during the school year.
“We’re grateful to the hunters, meat processors and program partners who make Share the Harvest possible,” Keys said. “Every donated deer helps provide a valuable source of nutritious protein to neighbors across our region.”
Hunters interested in participating can find approved processing locations through the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Share the Harvest program.
More information about Southeast Missouri Food Bank and its hunger relief programs is available at semofoodbank.org.
