Hunters for the Hungry: Turning Virginia’s Deer Harvest Into Meals for Families in Need

Hunters for the Hungry: Turning Virginia’s Deer Harvest Into Meals for Families in Need

Gary Arrington of Hunters for the Hungry returns to the Green Top Outdoors Podcast to talk about the incredible impact Virginia hunters are making in communities across the Commonwealth.

Joined by Hunter Brooks and Todd Sadler, Gary shares how Hunters for the Hungry takes donated deer and turns that valuable source of protein into meals for men, women, children, veterans, and families facing food insecurity.

Last year was another phenomenal year for the organization, with more than 205,000 pounds of venison donated and processed, providing more than 820,000 quarter-pound servings. Since 1991, Hunters for the Hungry has distributed more than 8.3 million pounds of venison, representing over 33.4 million quarter-pound servings throughout Virginia.

But keeping the program moving takes more than donated deer. As Gary explains, Hunters for the Hungry needs both “deer and dollars.” Processing costs continue to rise, and the organization is also facing a shortage of participating deer processors. At the same time, demand from food banks, church pantries, feeding programs, and other organizations continues to grow.

Gary also discusses new ways Hunters for the Hungry is putting donated venison to work, including shelf-stable venison chili, stew, soup, and spaghetti sauce. These products can reach families and feeding programs that may have limited freezer or refrigeration capacity.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

How donated deer become meals for Virginians in needWhy deer processors are the program’s “unsung heroes”Rising processing costs and why financial donations matterThe need for additional processors and volunteersHunters for the Hungry’s statewide impactNew canned venison initiativesHow hunters can donate while purchasing a Virginia hunting licenseThe importance of hunters serving their local communitiesThe Hunters for the Hungry Sporting Clays Benefit ShootHow just $1 can help provide three quarter-pound servings

Gary also talks about the future of Hunters for the Hungry and the need to find passionate people who can help carry the organization’s mission forward.

Whether you donate a deer, contribute a few dollars, volunteer your time, help spread the word, or support a Hunters for the Hungry event, every contribution can make an impact.

Learn more about Hunters for the Hungry, find donation information, locate participating processors, and discover ways to support the program at h4hungry.org.

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