Michigan deer hunters are in the middle fire-arm season, but for one local organization it's the beginning of a busy season of putting food on dinner tables.
6 News' Deanna Falzone spent the day with a mid-Michigan man to find out what it takes to provide more than 100,000 meals to those in need.
Tom Cullimore has a passion for hunting, seven years ago he turned that passion into a way to give back to the community.
He started Helping Other People Eat, or HOPE. Hunters can donate their deer at one of ten local participating processors. Cullimore then picks up the venison from the processor.
He then delivers the meat to over a dozen food banks throughout mid-Michigan.
Monday Cullimore delivered some venison to Haslett Food Bank.
Betsy Mclernon, who works at Haslett Food Bank, said in October the food bank was able to feed 84 households.
In a time when more families are needing help, Cullimore is providing them a sense of hope that they may not get elsewhere.
"For the first time since I've been doing this in 7 years I have been running into empty freezers at food banks," said Cullimore.
So far this year nearly 4 tons of meat have been donated and Cullimore knows he has the whole community to thank.
"It was my dream to hit a 100,000 meals. I didn't know how long that would take but that was my dream and we're well past that. Were at 107,465 meals to mid-Michigan," said Cullimore.
For more information about HOPE or to find out how you can get involved call Tom at 517-655-3960.
