Local hunters solve two problems when providing venison.

• Deer hunting has been suggested as a solution to supply meat to food banks.
• Nate Whitson, a local hunter and founder of Hunter Against Hunger, donates venison to the Helping Hands Food Pantry.
• Local efforts aim to feed families and address deer population issues.

For your convenience, the high-flying summary above is generated using AI and fact-checked by our team before publication. Read the full story as originally reported below.

“Inflation has really hit the local family hard.”

Food insecurity is a problem in the heart of Michigan that Amanda Thompson says she wants to combat.

“We see about 60 to 70 families every day, which equates to about 200 people a day,” Thompson said.

Her organization, Helping Hands Food Pantry, provides families with food, diapers and other basic needs.

But she also has a special dining option for neighbors: VENISION.

“Venison is a big part of helping families get more protein, it’s a really lean meat,” Thompson said.

And the meat obtained is donated by neighborhood hunters like Nate Whitson. Whitson is the founder of Hunters against Hunger.

The group brings together like-minded hunters who want to do what they love but also want to give something back…

“People who hunt tend to be really good, kind-hearted people who love their neighbors and enjoy serving,” Whitson said.

Because he knows…

“It's really commonplace for families to struggle to put meat on their table,” Whitson said.

Two problems are solved at the same time.

Antlerless deer overpopulation is a topic FOX47 News Dewitt neighborhood reporter Russell Shellberg spoke about with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' acting deer specialist in September.

And Whitson hopes other hunters will join him in helping solve two problems at once: hunger and high antlerless deer populations.

“Once your freezer is full, use one of the other trailers and donate it. We’re going to feed families right where we live,” Whitson said.

We're helping Thompson serve more families in need.

“It takes a village to feed a village,” Thompson said.

As your neighborhood reporter for the state capitol, I reported in July on new approved deer regulations that neighbors can take advantage of this season. This includes extending the archery hunting season for antlerless deer to the second Sunday in January and allowing hunters to hunt antlerless deer on private and public lands in the early and late seasons.

For more information about supporting Hunter Against Hunger, visit their website.

Want to see more local news? Visit the FOX47News website.

For more State Capitol news, visit State Capitol neighborhood page on our website.

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