The second year of the deer donation program through the University of Illinois Extension was a huge success.

Caitlin Mellendorf is a nutrition educator at the U of I Extension in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties and indicates the second year was even better than the first. They were very pleased with all the hunters and meat processors that participated in the program this year.

According to Mellendorf, the deer donation program is a collaboration between hunters, meat processors, and food pantries to help reduce food insecurity in east-central and southern Illinois.

The goal is to continue to grow the program throughout the State of Illinois and believes it will have to be a slow but steady growth over time. 

She hopes hunters will be on the lookout for information about the program later this year for the 2024 deer hunting season.