As hunting season approaches, the Chasseurs Généreux program is back and hunters are invited to donate some of their game to families in need of food assistance.
This year, those responsible for the program want to recruit more participating butcher shops. They, in turn, can act as a kind of ambassador.
“A visit to the butcher shop is often the crucial time for a donation. When the butcher asks a hunter, “Hey, would you like to donate a few pounds of meat?” Usually the hunters have no problem saying “yes.” They are happy to work together and offer quality meat to families in need and also from their region,” explained marketing consultant for the Federation of Hunters and Fishermen of Quebec, Mathieu Martin.
For many people, these donations make a big difference, especially in these difficult times when we estimate there are 10% more requests for food assistance than last year.
“It’s meat and it’s not just meat, but it’s meat that you can’t get in the supermarket.” The only way to get it is to hunt. There is surprise. “There are some who don’t really know how to cook it, so we have to find recipes,” added Geneviève Marchand, deputy director and communications at Moisson Mauricie.
For the butcher this means space. Once the freezer is full, you call and someone picks up the meat to take to the organizations.
“My job is to make suggestions and ask them if they would like to share their harvest with us this year. “We don’t put more pressure on it either, it remains voluntary, but the most important thing is to talk about it with every customer who comes in to get as much as possible,” said the co-owner and butcher of the Boucherie. Odyssey who recently joined the program, Anthony Lamoureux.
In Mauricie, the program donated about 200 pounds of meat last year. In more generous regions, up to 1500 pounds per season can be achieved.
Two butcher shops in Mauricie and three in Centre-du-Québec are already participating. The program hopes to inspire more to “fight hunger in the region.”