Game To Grub Program : Transforming Hunting Into Hunger Relief

Game To Grub is an innovative outreach and recovery program dedicated to educating, advocating, and recruiting hunters to donate their harvests through established initiatives such as Farmers and Hunters Feeding The Hungry and Kansas Hunters Feeding The Hungry. ICT Food Rescue proudly plans to partner with these organizations to amplify their efforts, increasing meat donations and volunteer involvement to nourish our community’s food insecure.

A single deer can yield 50 to 60 pounds of nutrient-dense, protein-rich venison, enough to supply over 18 local nonprofit agencies serving Wichita’s vulnerable populations. To maximize this protein resource, ICT Food Rescue will cover the full cost of processing donated game, ensuring that more venison reaches those experiencing food insecurity in a safe, usable form.

Venison offers remarkable nutritional benefits compared to traditional beef. Three ounces of lean venison contain just 134 calories and 3 grams of total fat, significantly lower than beef’s 247 calories and 15 grams of fat. It also has about one-sixth the saturated fat of beef, while boasting higher protein content, 26 grams compared to 23 grams. Venison is richer in vital nutrients including iron, vitamin B6, niacin, and riboflavin, making it an exceptionally healthy meat choice (Outdoor Life, 2013, https://www.outdoorlife.com).

The ICT Food Rescue team will develop a robust outreach campaign targeting sportsman organizations to foster awareness and engagement. This campaign will educate hunters about how their passion and sportsmanship can directly combat food insecurity in our community by donating surplus game.

ICT Food Rescue seeks to create and build key partnerships with organizations such as:

  • Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors Inc., Wichita, KS (https://www.passitonoutdoorgroup.org)

  • National Deer Association, Kansas Bluestem Branch, El Dorado, KS (https://www.nationaldeerassociation.com)

  • Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Hunters Education, Wichita, KS (https://ksoutdoors.com)

Additionally, ICT Food Rescue is actively looking for any and all potential partnerships that can elevate and expand the reach and impact of the Game To Grub program. Collaborations with hunting clubs, processors, conservation groups, local businesses, and other stakeholders are essential to increasing the volume of donated venison and strengthening community food security.

By fostering these partnerships and providing critical processing support, Game To Grub will significantly increase the amount of wholesome, high-protein venison delivered to food insecure families in Wichita.

Supporting this program means investing in a sustainable, community-driven solution that combines conservation, nutrition, and compassion, putting nourishing protein on the plates of food-insecure neighbors.