ALBION, Ill. – Illinois Extension is calling on deer hunters to help address food insecurity in local communities. Illinois Extension serving Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, and Wayne counties has added the Hunters Feeding Illinois program to the five-county unit for the 2025-2026 deer hunting seasons. Hunters who donate their deer to the program will provide food pantries in Lawrence, Richland, and Wabash counties with ground venison.
“Hunters Feeding Illinois is a wonderful program that really highlights the positive impact of what can happen when a community works together. It helps provide free, high-quality protein to families who might not otherwise have access to it, while also connecting conservation with community service in a meaningful way,” says Alizah Harper, SNAP-Ed educator. “We’re grateful for the support we’ve received so far from our partnering meat processors, donors, and those willing to help spread the word about the program. We hope local hunters have a successful season and consider donating their deer as well. Every bit of support truly makes a difference.”
Deer hunters interested in donating a deer are asked to field dress their whole, legally harvested deer, then contact one of the local program’s participating processors to ensure donations are still being accepted. This season, Charlie’s Deer Processing and Smokehouse in Bridgeport (618-945-3100) and Legacy Meats in Sumner (618-936-4072) have partnered with Illinois Extension to process deer donations into ground venison.
The venison will then be delivered to five food pantries in Lawrence, Richland, and Wabash counties. Extension also provides information on how to incorporate venison into daily meals by providing food pantries with cookbooks and educational handouts, as well as meat mashers and hot pads (while supplies last).
Financial contributions are still being accepted to increase the capacity for accepting more deer donations. Each deer costs $100 to process. Since every donation is matched by Feeding Illinois, a $50 donation will process one deer. Donations can be made online at donorbox.org/hunters-feeding-illinois. Donors are encouraged to select “Write a comment,” and comment Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, or Wayne County to ensure funds are applied to the local program.
For additional questions, contact SNAP-Ed Educator Alizah Harper at the Edwards County Extension Office by calling 618-445-2934. Learn more about the program by visiting go.illinois.edu/HuntersFeedingIllinois.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.