How Venison is Donated
Hunters and farmers are able to donate an entire deer or a portion of their deer to the Venison Donation Coalition. Click on Find a Processor to locate one near you. CALL AHEAD to make sure the processor is open and accepting deer. Once you have your deer properly field dressed and legally tagged, you can bring it to one of our processors near your home or where you hunt. Whole deer donations are greatly appreciated but not required. There is NO COST TO THE HUNTER/FARMER for the processing fees of donated venison.
How Venison is Distributed
The venison Donation Coalition, Inc. currently distributes venison through fourteen food pantries in nine counties in western and central New York. The pantries pick up the venison from participating processors and distribute it in their areas to those in need.
The Food Banks are directed statewide by the Food Bank Association of New York State (www.foodbankassocnys.org) The Association serves as its statewide coordinator in food and funding donations, interactive with farmers, manufacturers, food producers and various trade associations and other not-for profits, such as the Venison Donation Coalition.
Your Deer, Your Community. You BET!
To receive venison, you must contact the food bank that serves your community. See the listing below.
INDIVIDUALS
To receive venison, you must contact the food pantry that serves your community. To find your nearest pantry, contact the Food Bank that serves your county.
| FeedMore WNY 91 Holt Street Buffalo, NY 14203 (716) 852-1305 www.feedmorewny.org | Food Link 1999 Mt. Read Blvd. Rochester, NY, 14615 (585) 328-3380 foodlinkny.org | Food Bank of the Southern Tier 388 Upper Oakwood Ave. Elmira, New York 14903 (607)796-6061 www.foodbankst.org |
| Food Bank of Central New York 7066 Interstate Island Road Syracuse, New York 13209 (315) 437-1899 www.foodbankcny.org | Regional Food Bank 965 Albany-Shaker Road Latham, NY 12110 (518) 786-3691 regionalfoodbank.net | Food Bank of the Hudson Valley (Satellite Regional Food Bank) 195 Hudson Street Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY 12520 (845) 534-5344 foodbankofhudsonvalley.org |
| Feeding Westchester 200 Clearbrook Road Elmsford, NY 10523 (914) 923-1100 feedingwestchester.org | Island Harvest Food Bank 40 Marcus Blvd. Hauppauge, NY 11788 631-873-4775 www.islandharvest.org | Long Island Cares 10 David’s Drive Hauppauge NY 11788 (631) 582-3663 www.licares.org |
| Food Bank New York City 39 Broadway, 10th Floor New York, NY 10006 (212) 566-7855 www.foodbanknyc.org | City Harvest 6 East 32nd Street, 5th Floor New York, NY 1001 (646) 412-0600 www.cityharvest.org |
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Non-profit organizations that would like to participate in the distribution of ground venison to those in need should contact the Venison Donation Coalition, Inc.
Food banks provide goods and services to soup kitchens, shelters, and food pantries in your local communities. After becoming a member agency, venison is available from food banks via their menus and distribution network.
Certain information is required to accompany wild game donations when given to a charitable organization. The meat package/wrapping must be clearly tagged, labeled, or marked with the following information:
- a statement “NOT FOR SALE”
- the type of meat (i.e. venison)
- the license number of the hunter/deer carcass number
- the name and address of the professional processor of the game
- the date of processing
