Lawrence Co. meat processors working with Hunters Feeding Illinois

Two Lawrence County meat processors are available for hunters to donate deer to aid food pantries.

Charlie's Deer Processing and Smokehouse in Bridgeport and Legacy Meats in Sumner are working with a statewide program that returns for its fourth season.

Hunters Feeding Illinois, in partnership with Feeding Illinois, Access Illinois Outdoors, Southern Illinois Food Pantry Network, and University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Education.

Hunters Feeding Illinois has the mission to connect hunters, meat processors, and food pantries to support access to lean protein for Illinois residents and families. Food pantries in 50 Illinois counties are participating in the program this year.

"Around 1 in 8 people in Illinois struggle to access food, with higher rates in two-thirds of the program coverage area," says Michelle Fombelle, Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed educator. "Protein foods are expensive, and Hunters Feeding Illinois makes it possible for Illinois individuals and families to stretch their food budget.”

University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Education, the originator and leader of Hunters Feeding Illinois, will be ending programming due to funding cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Pub. L. No. 119-21). This will be the last season that SNAP-Ed will be able to support the Hunters program.

Like previous years, 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.