“For years now, Forest Feeding Families has been a terrific partner to DuPage Township Food Pantry. They have donated hundreds of pounds of product that the residents of our community have used, just as quickly as we can distribute it. Many clients look forward to these “different” items they can use to supplement their diet, with adding it to homemade chili being a leading favorite. Nick and his crew are great, delivering the product to us themselves and have promised to provide additional recipes we can distribute. Partnerships like this are priceless!”

— Dave Locke, Executive Director, DuPage Township Food Pantry

Our Mission

Forest Feeding Families (F3) is based on three founding principles: feeding families, furthering conservation education, and fostering relationships with the community.

Through these three principles, we can help the people of our communities, sustain our environment and see wildlife flourish.

 

FEEDING FAMILIES

Feeding Families. We want to do our part to ensure no child goes hungry, and that they receive the nutrition they need to live and grow.

In Illinois alone, 1.2 million residents go to bed hungry ever night. 1 in 5 Illinoisans have food insecurity and over 350,000 of them are children. One deer harvested by legal means can provide 40-100 pounds of organic protein that children and adults need to stay nourished and healthy.

 

FURTHERING CONSERVATION EDUCATION

Furthering Conservation Education. We want to help people understand the impact hunting plays in saving our wildlife resources and our open spaces.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation said it best, “hunting is conservation.” The Federal Aid and Wildlife Restoration Act established in 1934, has provided over $10.1 billion dollars directly to conservation of our wildlife resources through taxation of hunting equipment. Of that $10.1 billion, 83% goes directly to conservation and 17% to hunter education.

State regulations, bag limits, license fees and the establishment of hunting seasons has made a staggering, positive impact to whitetail deer conservation efforts. In 1934, prior these state imposed regulations, there was an estimated 300,000 whitetail deer in the US today. Today, with the regulated hunting to promote healthy deer herd, the estimated deer population is over 30 million!

 
 

FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY

Fostering Relationships. We want to do our part to help people in the community understand the role hunters play in conservation off all wildlife and the open spaces so many love to enjoy for many reasons.

Estimates show that roughly 600 acres of open spaces are lost to development and other factors every day. The Federal Aid and Wildlife Restoration Act is the number source of funds to protect this so all people can enjoy the outdoors. Advocacy groups like Duck Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, and Whitetails Unlimited have helped conserve millions of acres of land.

License sales by each state help fund local efforts to help promote and protect all wildlife species through their Department of Natural Resources. Additionally, hunters provide a huge economic boost to local communites each season.

We accomplish our mission by engaging hunters and partnering with authorized Illinois deer processors

  • Dave's Meat Market

    Nick and Dave at Dave’s Meat Market in Yorkville, Illinois.

  • Elkins Deer Processing and Taxidermy

    Nick, Larry, and Dale, the owner of Elkins Deer Processing in New Carlisle, Indiana.

  • S&J Lisbon Locker

    Nick and Julie at S&J Lisbon Locker in Newark, Illinois.

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