With Video and Website, NSSF Urges Hunters to Share Their Fall Harvest with Those in Need

NEWTOWN, Conn. -- Hunters are generous people. More than 11 million meals were provided to the less fortunate through hunters' donations of game meat in 2010.

As a reminder to all hunters to consider sharing their harvest this autumn with those in need, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has developed a new video and webpage that encourage making venison donations to food banks and other charitable meal providers. NSSF is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry.

In the video, NSSF Director of Editorial Services Glenn Sapir asks fellow hunters to consider making a donation of game meat this fall if they have the good fortune to tag a deer or other game animal. "I believe that what a person gives is returned many times over," said Sapir. "I have no doubt that if a hunter makes a venison donation to a local food pantry or church kitchen, he or she will receive great personal satisfaction in knowing they have provided many meals to people in difficult circumstances."

Acquiring nutritious meat is difficult and expensive, say many charitable food providers. "Without venison donations, some organizations would not have protein to give to people," said Peter Aldrich, president of Hunt to Feed in Connecticut. With just one deer able to feed 200 people, it's easy to see how important hunters' venison donations are to providers.

Programs like Hunt to Feed and others are active in nearly every state, so hunters have plenty of opportunities to participate in a donation program. NSSF's new Hunters Feed website provides information on how to contact the many active groups that accept game meat donations. If you don't find an organization near you, NSSF suggests contacting the state wildlife department, a local fish and game club or a nearby food pantry.

"If you have a successful hunting season," said Sapir, "donating venison is a way to make it an even better and more meaningful one."