Illinois Deer Donation Program returns for 3rd donation season as 'Hunters Feeding Illinois'

(WAND) - The Illinois Deer Donation Program returns for its third donation season as “Hunters Feeding Illinois.”

The name has been changed to show an expanded partnership among Feeding Illinois, Southern Illinois Food Pantry Network, and University of Illinois Extension.

Hunters Feeding Illinois connects hunters, meat processors, and food pantries to support access to lean protein for Illinois residents and families. The expanded partnership covers 16 counties in east-central Illinois and 16 counties in southern Illinois.

The east-central territory includes Champaign, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, and Shelby counties.

"Around 1 in 8 people in Illinois struggle to access food, with rates higher in two-thirds of the program coverage area," said Caitlin Mellendorf, nutrition and wellness educator. "Protein foods are expensive, and Hunters Feeding Illinois makes it possible for Illinois individuals and families to spend a little less on protein.”

Hunters can donate whole harvested deer at no cost. Partnering meat processors are prepared to accept donated deer with the start of deer hunting season in October. Because processing volume increases throughout the season, hunters are encouraged to call processors in advance to confirm they have slots to accept deer. Processors have a select number of slots for donated deer, which becomes more limited as the season continues.

The East-Central meat processors accepting donations include:

River Bend Wild Game & Sausage Company in St. Joseph
Moweaqua Packing Plant in Moweaqua
Connelly Locker in Martinsville
Oconee Chop Shop in Oconee
Howe's Custom Deer Processing in Cowden
Windy Ridge Processing in Shobonier
Blair's Slaughtering and Processing in Louisville
Salt and Strings in Louisville

Thanks to the collaboration with Feeding Illinois, your donation will be doubled dollar per dollar. A $50 donation becomes $100, which covers processing of one deer. In the 2023 season, the program processed more than 300 deer and provided more than 12,000 pounds of venison to food-insecure neighbors in Illinois.

To donate, read more about the program, find a list of partnering meat processors, and more, visit Hunters Feeding Illinois, and follow the program on Facebook to see local impact throughout the season.