Wild Game Meat Donation Month

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Wild Game Meat Donation Month

WHEREAS, hunting in Virginia is enshrined in the state constitution, offering opportunities to connect with nature while providing food security and nutrition to hunters, their families, and those less fortunate through community-based Hunters for the Hungry (HFTH) programs; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Hunters Who Care Program, launched in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), is a common-sense answer to fighting hunger and tapsinto the role of hunting as an integral cultural component of Virginia communities; and

WHEREAS, recent research shows that while American hunters share 119 million pounds of harvested game meat with others outside their households each year, many meat processors involved in HFTH programs in previous years did not receive enough donated game meat to fulfill their missions; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia DWR is funded largely by hunters through the "user pays, public benefits" system known as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, resulting in $16,664,004 in Pittman-Robertson funding going back to the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2024 alone for its critical wildlife and habitat conservation programs; and

WHEREAS, promoting the Virginia tradition of sharing our wild game harvests takes on even greater significance as we strive to protect the future of hunting and promoteit as a food source, a right, and a vital wildlife management tool; and

WHEREAS,Virginians are encouraged to gain a greater understanding and awareness of food insecurity and how it impacts our nation, Commonwealth, and communities;and

WHEREAS, hunger is a problem we can help solve together through established HFTHprograms,such as Virginia Hunters Who Care,so that one day hunger no longer exists in ourCommonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the National Rifle Associationand its millions of members have declared November National Wild Game Meat Donation Month across America and encourage all hunters to donatesurplus game meat and financially supportlocal HFTH programs as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving and the season of giving;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize November 2024, as WILD GAME MEAT DONATION MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.