Staples Food Shelf can take meat donations

Fall and into winter seem to be times of the year when many are in need and the costs of food are rising, especially meat. The Staples Area Food Shelf board recently approved a policy where the food shelf will pay for the processing of meat that people want to donate to the food shelf.

Livestock donations of pork or beef will be accepted if it’s prepared by a licensed processor.

Anyone wanting to donate a cow or hog should contact the food shelf first, so they can make the payment for  processing of the meat directly to the processor. 

Archery harvested deer can be donated to food shelves, as long as the processors are licensed by the state for food shelves. There are no processors in the Staples area, who are licensed for food shelves. Deer  harvested by a firearm, must be x-rayed by the state for lead poisoning, and the meat is not be returned locally.

For those reasons, the Staples Food Shelf is not taking venison donations at this time.

For more info contact Fran Mertens or Doreen Scott at; 218-894-2427.