New Program Helps Feed Those Who Served

After attending a church service this past fall, Andrew Elliott, an advanced medical support assistant at Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, and Adam Doerhoff, Boone County conservation agent with the Missouri Department of Conservation, discussed the possibility of providing donated deer meat, or venison, to Veterans experiencing food insecurity. 

“I remember we both really were inspired by the potential impact a program like this could have,” Elliott said. “I brought the idea to Ron Graves, chief of Truman VA’s Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE), and he immediately embraced our vision.”

The new program, Venison for Vets, was born.

“It’s really a grassroots community initiative that has been extremely successful,” Graves said. “Because deer season was just around the corner, we had to work very fast to develop a functional program.”

Graves immediately reached out to a local food bank for information about meat donations. He also secured funding for processing donated venison and identified freezers to store the meat prior to distribution. Meanwhile, Elliott and Doerhoff collaborated to navigate the regulations associated with donating wild game and began contacting local meat processors.

“None of this would have been possible without our partnership with Tune’s Locker Plant and Crane’s Meat Processing ― both located in Boone County,” Elliott said. “Also, a generous donation from Lowe’s provided two freezers ― an essential component for storing the processed venison.

The initial goal was to collect 350 pounds of donated ground venison, a target that seemed ambitious but achievable. As Missouri’s deer season began, the team faced early challenges. However, the tide quickly turned when Tune’s Locker Plant contacted them with an incredible donation — 600 pounds of venison. In total, Venison for Vets collected more than 700 pounds of donated ground deer meat. 

“Andrew and I coordinated the collection and storage of the donated venison, which is distributed to our Veterans through Truman VA’s food pantry,” Graves said.

The impact was immediate and heartfelt. 

“The joy that Veterans express when they hear they are getting venison to take home is priceless,” said Sarah Hoy, a CDCE specialist at Truman VA who helps manage the medical center’s food pantry. 

Protein is one of the most difficult items for the CDCE food pantry to source due to its cost. Venison for Vets, supported by generous donors and community partners, helps bridge that gap by providing high-quality, protein-rich venison to those who have served our country.  

“This initiative is a testament to what can happen when community members come together with a shared purpose,” Elliott said. “From a church pew conversation to hundreds of pounds of donated meat, Venison for Vets is making a real difference — one meal at a time!”

Truman VA’s Venison for Vets pilot program was held during the November firearms portion of the 2025 Missouri deer season. The team plans to extend the program in 2026 to also include archery season.

For more information about the program or how to donate to Truman VA, please contact the CDCE by email at TrumanVACDCE@va.gov.