Deer from Hunters Feeding Illinois provided 138,900 meals

Springfield — Hunters Feeding Illinois distributed 46,366 pounds of lean protein to food pantries across Illinois during the 2025-26 hunting season – providing an estimated 138,900 meals in 48 counties.

The donated venison has an estimated retail value of more than $320,000, based on USDA averages for nutritionally similar protein, helping food pantries stretch limited resources while increasing access to lean meat.

Hunters Feeding Illinois connects hunters, meat processors, and food pantries to support access to lean protein for Illinois residents and families. Hunters donate legally harvested, tagged deer to participating local meat processors, who prepare and package the venison for distribution to nearby food pantries. Food pantries in 48 Illinois counties are participating in the program this year.

“This program has been a blessing to our food pantry,” Catholic Charities of Effingham noted in a statement. “With the rising cost of groceries, the venison has been a huge hit with families. Some guests even ask for it specifically when they come in.”

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As a program within the Illinois Farm to Food Bank, Hunters Feeding Illinois is a collaborative initiative in partnership with Feeding Illinois, Southern Illinois Food Pantry Network, Access Illinois Outdoors, and University of Illinois Extension to create a statewide system.

“We thank the hunters who donated 1,129 deer and the 24 meat processors who prepared and packaged the ground venison,” said Michelle Fombelle, Extension educator. “With the high cost of groceries, including meat, we are proud to increase access to lean protein across Illinois.”