Need to pick up a moose? Donations to the St. John’s Food Bank ensure everyone can

Wrapped package of elk meat. — On Friday, elk meat and salted fish were donated to the Single Parents Association food bank in St. John’s. (Ted Dillon/CBC)

A donation of elk meat and salt fish would be a welcome surprise at any food bank, including the St. John’s Single Parents Association.

The food was donated to the association’s food bank on Friday by Barry Fordham and Sharing the Harvest, a group that helps hunters and gatherers donate their catch to food banks in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“For us outdoor people, wild game has a very natural value. And we value it so highly that sometimes, unfortunately, we hoard it,” said Fordham, co-founder of the group.

“If you have surplus food in your freezer, why not consider – especially in these times of food insecurity – donating it to food banks or senior citizens.”

The donation comes at a time when food banks in Newfoundland and Labrador are reporting increased demand for their services.

A man in a black windbreaker and a woman in large-framed glasses and a black and white shirt are standing in an office space. — Barry Fordham of Sharing the Harvest and Allison Smith-Bungay of the Single Parents Association say donations of wildlife such as elk and fish are a pleasant surprise for the people who receive them. (Ted Dillon/CBC)

Recent Report A Food Banks Canada study found that more than two million Canadians visited a food bank in March alone, including more than 14,000 residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Allison Smith-Bungay, employment services specialist for the Single Parents Association, said donations like Fordham’s can make a big difference — and recipients love them.

“Food that is hunted and eaten often brings back a lot of nostalgia, a lot of memories of where they grew up, their childhood,” Smith-Bungay said.

“Our main mission at the end of the day is happy bellies, full bellies, and I think we were able to achieve that.”

Fordham said he hopes other hunters will consider donating some of their excess meat and other produce from the land to help fight food insecurity.

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