NASHVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – With deer season in full swing and the holidays fast approaching, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Hunters for the Hungry program is again accepting donations to help feed local families in need. Statewide, more than 75 processors are collecting donations to feed fellow Tennesseans.
Since its inception, Hunters for the Hungry has provided more than 7 million meals of healthy, lean protein for hungry Tennesseans. This is an important task at any time of the year, but the organization believes it takes on special meaning during the holiday season.
“Hunters for the Hungry had its second-best-year in 2018 – providing more than 581,000 meals to families in need,” said Matt Simcox, Hunters for the Hungry manager. “We are looking to keep that momentum going during the holidays and into the New Year. Montgomery County hunters can play a big part.”
Whenever hunters harvest a deer, they can donate it – in part or whole, to the program at a participating processor. the deer is processed, and the venison is delivered to a local hunger relief organization. One deer can provide as many as 168 meals.
In the name of caution, Hunters for the Hungry is partnering with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to test every deer donated within Unit CWD for the disease. Hunters for the Hungry are also testing many of the donations made outside of the Unit in Region 1.
There is currently no evidence that CWD us transmitted to humans, but the CDC still recommends against eating CWD-positive meat. All donations that test positive will be discarded.
Currently, hunters can drop off a whole deer donation at no cost to them. Each year, Hunters for the Hungry covers tens of thousands of dollars in processing fees for donations. If deer donations surpass available funding for this season, hunters can pay a reduced, $50 processing fee or redeem a deer coin.
For a list of processors that accept donations click here.