SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WSBT) — As grocery prices continue to put pressure on household budgets, a local food bank is getting help from an unexpected source: deer donated by hunters.
The program helps provide families with a source of protein that otherwise can be expensive to buy.
The venison is processed and packaged into one-pound portions before being distributed through the Food Bank of Northern Indiana and its partner agencies across six counties.
Families can use the meat for meals at home.
Through Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, donated animals are processed and turned into packages of meat that can be distributed to families through food banks and partner agencies.
According to Food Bank of Northern Indiana officials, the donations help offset the cost of purchasing protein while giving families more options for meals.
The impact can start with just one animal.
They say a single deer can provide dozens of pounds of meat, potentially enough to help many families.
As grocery prices continue to put pressure on household budgets, a local food bank is getting help from an unexpected source: deer donated by hunters. (WSBT video)
“I don’t know exactly how many pounds, but one deer could provide up to 100, maybe more pounds of meat. So that can help feed. That can be over 100 families that we can help feed So one animal, whether it’s donated, purchased, wherever it comes from, really helps us get the food to the people who need it most,” said Bob Wieneke, Food Bank of Northern Indiana food donor relationship director.
This extra protein can make a difference when families are deciding how to cover groceries and other household bills.
“So if we can help out with protein, that can help stretch their dollars more at the grocery store to possibly buy other items or use their dollars elsewhere for other bills, electric, gas, anything like that. So it just helps people get from one place to another and stretch their dollars,” said Wieneke.
Hunters who want to help can donate deer through a participating processor in the Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry program.
The organization helps cover processing costs so the meat can be distributed to food banks and other organizations serving people in need.
You can find participating processors on the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website.
