Not a hunter? You can still help by donating today

Your donation goes towards reimbursing partnering meat processors for their time and effort.

Donate Online: Access secure and confidential online giving through University of Illinois Foundation.

1. Visit our safe online donation site
2. In the “Search” type “Illinois Deer Donation Program”. Hit the “Select” button and enter donation amount.

Donate by Mail: Write a check and mail it to one of the local Illinois Extension county offices below:

1. Coles County Extension Office
   • Attn: HEAT Deer Donation
   • 809 Broadway
   • Mattoon, IL 61938
2. Champaign County Extension Office
   • Attn: Illinois Deer Donation Program
   • 801 North Country Fair Drive, Suite D
   • Champaign, IL 61821
3. Effingham County Extension Office
   • Attn: HEAT Deer Donation
   • 1209 Wenthe Drive
   • Effingham, IL 62401
4. Macon County Extension Office
   • Attn: HEAT Deer Donation
   • 3351 N. President Howard Brown Blvd.
   • Decatur, IL 62521

Connect with Us

• Follow us on social media.
• Sign up for our email list.
  • Hunters, sign up here.
  • Food pantries, sign up here.

Contact

DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties: 

• Caitlin Mellendorf
• chuth2@illinois.edu | 217-877-6042

Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, and Shelby Counties

• Meredith Probst
• maepley@illinois.edu | 217-345-7034

Clay, Effingham, Fayette, and Jasper Counties

• Michelle Fombelle
• mfombell@illinois.edu | 217-347-7773

Champaign County

• Tracy Bowden
• tbowden@illinois.edu | 217-300-3446

General FAQs

• How does the program work? Illinois Deer Donation Program connects hunters, meat processors, and food pantries to support food security of individuals and families. Hunters donate a deer to a partnering meat processor. The ground venison is donated to an area food pantry.
• Are you feeding road kill? No. All donated deer must be hunted. Hunters will have to present their deer with tags.
• When is deer season? Illinois Department of Natural Resources coordinates dates for deer hunting season.
• Does the meat stay local? Yes. All donated meat goes to food pantries in our multi-county territory in east-central Illinois.

For Processors

• How and when will I be paid? Partnering processors must be a vendor in the University system and are paid by direct deposit. Processor are paid at the end of deer season.
• How much am I reimbursed for processing a deer? We pay $100/deer.
• How soon do you pick up meat? Once you give us a call that meat is ready for pick up, we will do our best to pick up within a couple days.
• Does the meat stay local? Yes. All donated meat goes to food pantries in our multi-county territory in east-central Illinois.

For Hunters

• How do I donate a deer? Donate a deer to one of our partnering meat processors. During drop-off, tell the processor you want the deer to go to Illinois Deer Donation Program. The processor will do the rest.
• What meat processors can I go to? See our current list of partnering processors at go.illinois.edu/deerdonation.
• Do I have to donate a whole deer? Yes. For food safety reasons, we required whole deer be brought to meat processors.
• Can I donate old meat in my freezer? No.
• Do I have to use a partnering processor? Yes.
• Does the meat stay local? Yes. All donated meat goes to food pantries in our multi-county territory in east-central Illinois.

For Pantries

• How much will I get? How often? The amount of venison given to pantries will vary by how many hunters donate a deer.
• How do I partner with Illinois Extension? How do I get meat? To start a partnership with Illinois Deer Donation Program, contact your nearest Extension Office in our current county territory. We ask our partnering pantries to allow SNAP-Ed nutrition education booths during food distribution days.
• What can I expect from SNAP-Ed nutrition education booths? Staff will set up a table with free educational information handouts, recipe cards, recipe samples, and activities. They are glad to chat with your pantry guests!
• Can I get meat without partnering? No. At this time, we prioritize giving meat to partnering food pantries.

For Donors

• Is my donation tax deductible? Yes. Contact the University of Illinois Foundation for specific details.
• Does the meat stay local? Yes. All donated meat goes to food pantries in our multi-county territory in east-central Illinois.
• How do I donate? See our section on donation at go.illinois.edu/deerdonation.
• How far does $100 go? We reimburse our partnering meat processors $100 per deer.
• How much meat does a deer give? A deer averages 60 pound of edible meat.
• How will my donation be recognized? Know we greatly appreciate your donation! (Also, this program is new. We welcome ideas on how to recognize our donors and sponsors.)
• Can I support the program without money? Of course. You can support us by spreading the word about the program and following us on social media. To donate product, such as cameo hats, shirts, decals, or dry herbs and spices, contact your nearest Extension Office in our current county territory.

The program is funded in part by the Health Equity Achieved Together Project (HEAT), a multi-disciplinary collaboration with University of Illinois Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. This material funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP. College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. University of Illinois | United States Department of Agriculture | Local Extension Councils Cooperating.