As food insecurity rises across New York, hunters are stepping up to help their communities through a long-running venison donation program coordinated by Feeding New York State.
The program, now in its 15th year, allows hunters to donate deer to registered meat processors. The meat is then packaged into one- or two-pound portions and distributed to local food banks and pantries. Each year, hunters donate roughly 60,000 to 70,000 pounds of venison — enough to fill two truckloads of meals for families in need.
“It’s an opportunity for hunters to donate that high-protein meat that’s always requested at food pantries and emergency programs,” said Kathleen Stress, executive director of Feeding New York State. “Once you tag your deer and bring it to a processor, you fill out one form indicating you want it donated to a food bank. From there, the meat gets processed and distributed through that food bank’s service area.”
Stress emphasized the importance of safety and proper handling, including the use of non-lead ammunition, to ensure families can make informed choices about consumption. “We want to make sure families have the information that allows them to decide whether venison is the best choice for their household,” she said.
The program comes as New Yorkers face increased food insecurity amid delays in federal SNAP benefits during the government shutdown.
“We are preparing mass and mobile distributions to meet the needs of community members,” Stress said. “But sadly, we are not going to be able to food bank our way out of this.”
She urged residents to contact elected officials about the importance of SNAP, noting that food banks typically provide one meal for every nine meals SNAP can provide.
Venison donations are just one part of Feeding New York State’s broader effort to reduce food waste and increase access to nutritious food. Since 2022, its food recovery program has redirected 65 million pounds of edible food to local food banks. The organization has also distributed 4.6 million pounds of dairy and 148 million pounds of produce in the past fiscal year.
Stress said the programs not only support families in need but also help local farmers and producers. “We work closely with our donors, farmers, growers, and producers to ensure our food banks have the resources they need,” she said.
Hunters, processors, and community members interested in participating in the venison donation program can find more information at feedingnys.org
Image: Hunters can help feed hungry New Yorkers by dropping deer off at a registered meat processor. (Credit: Feeding New York State)