Feral Hogs Accepted as Donations to Feed Hungry
Hunters For The Hungry Louisiana is now accepting hog donations at partner processors that are signed up with the organization throughout the state. Under the “Freshly Harvested Game Program,” deer have been approved to be processed and delivered to one of Louisiana’s five food banks and their affiliate kitchens and shelters. Due to the current need to control the feral hog population in Louisiana, hogs are now added to the program and accepted year-round.
Hunters are encouraged to visit the Hunters For The Hungry Louisiana (H4H) website to find a convenient partner processor where they can deliver their bounty. There is no cost to the hunter as H4H will pay the processing fee. As long as the H4H partner processor is called ahead of time, they’ll accept the hog, process it, and have it picked up by a local food bank or agency within that community.
According to the Louisiana State University AgCenter, feral hogs cause $76 million in agricultural damage in Louisiana annually. Overpopulation of feral hogs is a statewide issue due to the impact the species has on our natural resources, so H4H hopes Louisiana’s sportsmen can do their part in helping heavily impacted agriculture and wildlife by controlling the population, while feeding the hungry.
“Adding hogs to the Freshly Harvested Game Program has been a major priority, due to the frustrations they give farmers, land owners, and hunters,” says Julie Grunewald, executive director of H4H. “We look forward to the impact this will have on our ability to provide more protein for the hungry, especially since we’re not bound to a season.”
The mission of H4H is to encourage Louisiana's sportsmen to share their bounty of wild game and fish in order to combat hunger. Lean protein is the most difficult part of a meal to get donations for, yet it’s the most essential so sportsmen are encouraged to share what they have access to.
In the 2021/2022 season alone, H4H collected the following across the state of Louisiana to provide to the 5 Louisiana food banks with the support of volunteers, churches, community betterment organizations, and donors:
Over 49,000 pounds of protein
Resulting in over 196,000 meals
In addition to the Freshly Harvested Game Program, H4H hosts “Clean Out Your Freezer Day” and provides ways to donate monetary funds to help cover the costs of processing. To learn more, visit www.h4hla.org, and to find a Partner Processor that will accept hogs, visit www.h4hla.org/processors.