By Jill Sperling

Local agency hoping hunters hold the key to curbing food demand

Sep 2, 2015 | 7:00 AM

A volunteer-run organization is asking for help feeding the many Prince Albert families they serve.

Prince Albert Aid to the Homeless and the Hungry is asking hunters for donations of wild meat.

Volunteer Isabelle Impey said the organization has no funding and relies on food donations to feed the people who don’t qualify to get food from food banks.

“If you don’t have a home, you don’t have a fixed address, and you can’t get a referral from NCC (Native Co-ordinating Council), then you can’t get food anywhere else. So we actually try to target people who are in that situation.” said Impey.

Impey said they are not trying to take food away from the food bank.

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“I know that the P.A. Food Bank can’t use the meat if it isn’t inspected, so we decided we don’t want to compete with them because they do good work,” said Impey. “We decided to contact the outfitters and see if there’s some way we can get some of the extra that they have.”

She said they could run into difficulties this year because hunters may already have people lined up to take their extra meat.

“Maybe we’re competing with those [people],” said Impey. “I’m hoping not. We’re not in this for competition. I hope we do get some calls.

“One hunter called and said he’s an avid hunter and he will have some for us, so that’s a good start.”

Impey said Prince Albert Aid to the Homeless and the Hungry would like any waterfowl they receive to remain mostly intact, in order to get as much meat out of the birds as possible.

“The families are prepared to do all the plucking because … you lose a lot of the bird when you just save the breast.

“For the big game, [the hunters] don’t have to cut and wrap, we have all the equipment to do that. Our volunteers would help cut and wrap whatever meat we get,” said Impey.

Because the organization doesn’t have funds to rent a facility, Impey said she stores food in her garage. However, it doesn’t stay there long as food is distributed once a week.

Impey said the demand for food has been steadily increasing, and she doesn’t see it slowing anytime soon.

“As long as I’m still healthy enough to keep doing it I want to keep doing this work,” she said.

Those able to donate wild meat can contact Angela Impey at 306-940-4241.

jsperling@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jnsperling