News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Many Upper Cumberland meat processors helping to fight hunger, participants in a statewide initiative called Hunters For The Hungry.
Hunters For The Hungry started over 25 years ago by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. Bilbrey’s Custom Slaughter and Processing Owner Brian Bilbrey said the initiative is to provide meat and food for families in need for the community. Bilbrey said it was a no-brainer for him to participate with 60 other processors across the state.
“Just to be able to help the community out with the need of hunger,” Bilbrey said. “So I think it really does get the hunters into wanting to do something that they love to do and then something to be able to give back to the community.”
Bilbrey said other animals such as hogs, beef, and goats will also be accepted. Bilbrey said hunters can donate one package of meat or even a whole deer at no cost to the hunter.
“The Hunters For Hunger program pays a certain percentage of the processing for it,” Bilbrey said. “But now the pound per pack is free it doesn’t cost the Hunters for Hunger anything.”
Bilbrey said some hunters have offered to donate the meat and pay for the processing so the money to cover the processing charges can go to more donations.
“I do have hunters that come in and say hey I want to donate this for Hunters For Hunger but I am going to pay the processing fee on it so they don’t have to,” Bilbrey said. “That’s one more deer that they can pay for without using up their money.”
Bilbrey said he has seen firsthand that the meat being donated has benefited a lot of families in the Upper Cumberland. Hunters For Hungry will last till the end of Hunting season which is January 5th.
If interested in donating meat to those in need please visit the following processing locations: Bilbrey’s Custom Slaughter and Processing 105 Campground Road, Livingston, TN, DCCM Wild Game 451 Stailey Road, Byrdstown, TN, Pigg’s Deer Processing 143 Lonnie Nelson Lane, Hilham, TN, Whitleyville Station 3255 Jennings Creek Highway, Whitleyville, TN.
