For over 35 years, Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger has helped local communities fill their fridges with venison.
In 1991, the organization’s processor coordinator Dean Hall tells us they were inspired but the Safari Club’s Sportsmen Against Hunger program.
Klemmers Processing Butcher Mike Deyarmond says this is the first year they have participated, and they love it.
When Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger first started, they had a partnership with the Department of Natural Resources, however, they recently ended their contract with the DNR, meaning they lost some of their funding.
But, Dean says they receive plenty of help from GoFundMe, grants, the Michigan Farm Bureau and the Safari Club International Foundation.
Mike shared that the venison Klemmers processes is mostly from farmers who have crop damage permits.
Despite there being 30 processors participating in the program, only 6 are in Northern Michigan.
So, how can deer processors joining the program?
Dean tells us all a processor needs to do is visit their website and following the processor guidelines.
Both Dean and Mike shared that they both heard from from churches, food banks, pantries, and shelters, thanking them for the venison.
So far this year, the program has processed over 30,000 pounds of donated venison.
