Nonprofit helps hunters feed Idaho's hungry

The paths of Terri Binkley and Jeff Schroeder crossed just at the right time.

In 2002, Binkley formed Idaho Hunters Feeding the Hungry in Lewiston. The nonprofit is designed to provide big-game meat to area food banks, churches and soup kitchens.

Binkley was inspired by a favorite saying of her grandmother’s: “Waste not, want not.” She helped pass legislation that provided the funding and established the nonprofit status.

Schroeder also believed in using Idaho’s renewable natural resources to provide nutritious food for the hungry.

He attends St. Jerome Catholic Church and is a member of its food ministry. Schroeder reached out to Binkley after learning there is a huge need for protein donations in the area.

In Idaho, only big-game meat that has been processed by an affiliate butcher shop can be accepted. Road kill and improperly handled game can not be accepted due to possible contamination. Hunters can donate a whole deer or elk or a few pounds. The labeling of the donated meat also has to meet certain requirements.

Here’s how it works: A hunter takes an animal to an approved processor. The processor calls a local pantry to pick up the donation. The pantry pays the processor at a pre-negotiated rate. The pantry submits an invoice to IHFH to be reimbursed for the meat. A hunter can also pay for the processing.

“It’s all ground meat and not specialty cuts,” Schroeder said.

He estimated an average mule deer yields about 160 meals and an elk provides more than 400.

When hunters purchase their licences, they can also donate to the nonprofit, he said.

“We are trying to create additional funds by creating more awareness and more participation from pantries, processors and hunters,” Schroeder said. “We are statewide, but we are not operational through the whole state. We are looking for more awareness of the program.”