Hunters Feeding Michigan, Food Bank Council of Michigan work together to fight hunger

Other partners also contribute to program aimed at helping feed those in need

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has contracted with the Food Bank Council of Michigan to support and facilitate the DNR’s Hunters Feeding Michigan program, which connects donors, wild game processors and charities to help feed those in need. The program allows hunters to share their harvest by donating deer at a participating processor, then helps distribute venison donations to people in need. The Food Bank Council of Michigan is dedicated to working with the DNR and all Hunters Feeding Michigan partners to provide more venison to Michigan families facing food insecurity. The council’s established food distribution network will help get venison to those who need it through existing FBCM distribution channels and partners.

“It’s a privilege to work side by side with the Food Bank Council of Michigan to grow the Hunters Feeding Michigan program and to help channel venison donated by hunters to local food agencies throughout the state,” said Joe Presgrove, DNR Hunters Feeding Michigan program specialist. “Together we will help many Michiganders in need!” The Food Bank Council of Michigan, founded in 1984, leads a unified effort to end hunger across the state. By addressing the root causes of hunger, FBCM raises awareness, advocates for policies that protect those in need, conducts in-depth research to find sustainable solutions, and provides thought leadership and resources to Michigan’s food banks. Working with its network of seven regional food banks, which cover all 83 Michigan counties and serve over 2,800 hunger relief agencies, including church pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, school pantries and other community action organizations, FBCM strives to ensure that no Michigander goes without food.

In 2024, over 195 million pounds of food were distributed through the seven Feeding America food banks in Michigan. “We are excited to help partner with the participating deer processors and hunters to expand the Hunters Feeding Michigan program and are looking forward to what the future holds,” said Garrett Zuver, Food Bank Council of Michigan Agriculture Program specialist. DEER CAMP® Coffee Roasting Company partners with DNR to support Hunters Feeding Michigan The DNR is also proud to announce a new partnership with Sterling Heights-based DEER CAMP® Coffee Roasting Company & Outfitters, aimed at enhancing support for the Hunters Feeding Michigan program. DEER CAMP® Coffee Roasting Company & Outfitters is an award-winning, women-owned Michigan roasting company with premium blends inspired by the great outdoors. “Whether you’re fueling up for your next outdoor adventure or relaxing by the fire, every sip delivers bold flavors, smoothness and unmatched quality,” said Julie Majewski, director of DEER CAMP® Coffee Roasting Company & Outfitters. “And through this partnership, your love of coffee can make a real impact! This incredible initiative helps provides venison to those in need, ensuring no one goes hungry while celebrating Michigan’s hunting traditions.”

Coffee drinkers – or those looking for a great gift – can support Hunters Feeding Michigan by purchasing a bag of DEER CAMP® Coffee Donor Doe, a medium roast blend, or Traditions dark roast blend (DNR deer patch is included with Traditions purchase). Shop online at deercampcoffee.com or visit a DEER CAMP® supporting location to pick up a bag. “We are thrilled to work with DEER CAMP® Coffee Roasting Company & Outfitters on this important initiative. This partnership highlights the spirit of collaboration within Michigan’s hunting community, and together, we can make a meaningful impact on hunger and conservation,” Presgrove said. The partnership will focus on fund development, with proceeds from special products going directly to support the processing and distribution of donated venison to those in need in our state. “At DEER CAMP®, we believe in great coffee, strong traditions, connecting and giving back to the community. This partnership with the DNR is more than just a collaboration – it’s a way for us to support hunters, conservation efforts and those in need. Every purchase makes a difference, and together, we can create lasting change, one cup at a time,” Majewski said. Retailers interested in supporting the program and carrying the products can visit https://www.faire.com/direct/deercampcoffee. Sponsorship/partnership opportunities Interested in sponsoring or partnering with the Hunters Feeding Michigan program? Contact Joe Presgrove at PresgroveJ@Michigan.gov. To learn more about the program, visit Michigan.gov/HuntersFeedingMichigan.

Note to editors: Accompanying images are available below for download. Caption information follows.

• Deer Camp logo.
• Food Bank Council of Michigan logo.
• Hunters Feeding Michigan logo.
• Meal: The Food Bank Council of Michigan’s seven Feeding America food banks across the state serve over 2,800 hunger relief agencies, including church pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, school pantries and other community action organizations. Pictured here is a venison meal served at Grace Centers of Hope in Pontiac.
• Traditions: Purchasing a bag of DEER CAMP® Coffee Roasting Company & Outfitters Traditions dark roast (pictured here), which includes a DNR deer patch, or Donor Doe medium roast supports the processing and distribution of donated venison through the Hunters Feeding Michigan program.
• Venison: The DNR’s Hunters Feeding Michigan program connects donors, wild game processors and charities to help feed those in need, allowing hunters to share their harvest by donating deer at a participating processor, then helps get venison donations to people who need food. Here, packages of frozen venison await distribution.

DNR, Michigan National Guard work together to clear vital areas of fallen trees

Sawdust was flying at sites across northern Michigan as Department of Natural Resources and Michigan National Guard crews worked together to clear vital areas of trees downed by the massive weekend ice storm.

Of the more than 600 service members currently activated, approximately 130 are teamed up with Michigan DNR staff across the 12-county area hit hardest by the storm that stretches across the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula and into the southern tip of the Upper Peninsula.

“We appreciate the Guard’s cooperation and help,” said Jeff Stampfly, Michigan’s state forester and chief of the DNR’s Forest Resources Division. “There is a lot of work here to be done.”

Paul Rogers, DNR fire prevention specialist, was working with the chain saw crews and said they had cleared miles of roads Thursday in Emmet County.

“They’re doing well and making progress,” he said. Rogers shared that the devastation was hard to describe.

“There are areas where there is not much damage, and there’s an area where there is a 70-foot pine that looks like a toothpick sticking up, with every branch taken off of it,” he said.

The storm downed trees across the area, leaving some forested areas looking like they had been mowed. The storm blocked many roads and knocked out power to thousands of homes. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a 10-county disaster area on Monday which was later expanded to 12 counties, including Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle.

Guard members and DNR staff met for a briefing early Thursday morning before heading out to clear critical areas such as roads and access to communication towers. Among them was service member Laconey Spencer of Detroit. Having been through a chain saw safety review the night before, led by the DNR, Spencer was ready for his assignment.

“There is a lot of debris to be picked up,” Spencer said. “We want to do what we can to help.”

Please avoid traveling any backroads or trails as cleanup continues to allow for crews to complete their work. Additionally, cracked or broken branches still hanging in the trees could fall without warning.

For an up-to-date list of state parks and trails that are currently closed, go to Michigan.gov/DNRClosures.

Are you in the ice storm area? Learn more about resources.

Note to editors: An accompanying photo is available below for download. Caption information follows.

• Storm cleanup: Michigan DNR staff and members of the Michigan National Guard teamed up Thursday to clear roads across the 12-county area hardest hit by this week’s ice storm. This team is working in Emmet County near the community of Brutus. (Photo credit Michigan National Guard)