Kill Wild Animals to Feed the Homeless and Poor?

This project is both a little difficult to believe and comprehend, but apparently The Sportsman’s Channel has a project, including a city tour, to bring wild game to hungry, needy people, including people at shelters. Of course helping people without means is unobjectionable, but why in such a particular, labor-intensive and animal-killing manner?

Todd Hansen, Chief Marketing Officer of the Sportsman Channel was quoted: “We’re thrilled to bring our Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM initiative, a program that in its first year provided thousands of the nation’s hungry with nutrient-rich meals, to the Los Angeles community, especially during an economic time that finds more and more people in need every day.”

The LA Times reported that the following animals were served to citizens at a local shelter: elk, deer, wild pig and black bear. Why shoot an elk or a black bear though, when you could spend the money used for gasoline, bullets, permits, beverages and other hunting gear, on some much more affordable produce from a local market? And avoid killing wild animals. There’s already a massive food production infrastructure available that generates tremendous volumes of affordable food. In others words, it’s much cheaper to support people in need by donating food purchased from a local market. Also, animal meat is not any more “nutrient-rich” than other foods. Kate Linthicum of the LA Times notes, “Vegetarians were out of luck.”

The project site has a link to a game processor locator, by state. Processing the game is a costly and inefficient way to feed as many hungry people as possible.

The project may feed some hungry people for one meal at each shelter on their tour, but it also smacks of self-promotion. In this case, the promotion of killing wild animals for sport.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lydia L.

5:36PM PDT on Mar 31, 2013

It is healthy, organic free range meat. Much healthier than the stuff they get in soup kitchens. Why would you deny the poor their role in the great wheel of life. This is so much better than the canned junk that is probably horsemeat they get.

Also, How do you think these animals die in the wild? Do you think they lie down and go to sleep? Really? They die of starvation due to dental issues or are eaten while still usually alive by predators. At least humans kill the prey first. Rich elitists that have no connection to the land objecting...

March 31
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Veronique L.

2:12AM PDT on Oct 27, 2012

It's completely stupid!

October 27
send a green star

Bridget M.

2:51PM PDT on Oct 17, 2012

I'm pretty certain most of those in agreement with this article know very little about actual environmentalism or sustainability. I am an environmental science major, a gardener, and bow hunter. I worked in the deli of an organic food and health market. Hunting and foraging is actually way better for both humans and animals than just mass producing "vegetables" to feed the poor. And how much of the food that you rely on for nutrition as a vegetarian are non-native plants? How many of those invasive species led to the decimation of local wildlife and vegetation?

Please, educate yourselves before judging the hunters and providers that enabled your human species to flourish enough to develop the luxury of being a picky eaters.

http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/eij/article/hunt_fish_and_save_the_planet/

October 17
send a green star

LMj S.

3:05PM PDT on Sep 16, 2012

September 16
send a green star

3:04PM PDT on Sep 16, 2012

Aimee A.

12:07PM PDT on May 11, 2012

Terrible! Thanks for posting!

May 11
send a green star

Grainne O.

3:00PM PDT on May 4, 2012

Sadly, this is the reason I can't support charities that feed the poor - I need to know that my donations will not be used to buy meat or livestock. We shouldn't have to choose between helping people and avoiding animal cruelty; if charities only used healthy, vegetarian foods, I would be delighted to help. It's the same with many of the cancer research sites: I am all for finding a cure for cancer, but not at the expense of animals.

May 4
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Kai P.

8:50PM PDT on May 1, 2012

There is already plenty of food in this country to feed all the homeless and hungry and then some. Instead of killing MORE animals, why don't we all stop wasting food instead and make sure it goes to those who need it, instead of landfills.