NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Legislature's Sportsmen's Caucus has donated $5,000 to the nonprofit Hunters for the Hungry, which provides protein for the hungry.
Caucus members presented the check Tuesday to the Tennessee Wildlife Federation during the group's second annual dove hunt in Houston County.
"Hunters for the Hungry is a great organization that makes it possible for Tennesseans in need to get healthy proteins necessary for a balanced diet," said Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, co-chairman of the Tennessee Sportsmen's Caucus.
As a sportsman, Bell said, he's "happy to support their cause and look forward to continuing to work with this program to ensure they are able to reach and feed hungry Tennesseans for many years to come."
Since 1998, Hunters for the Hungry has provided more than 6.5 million meals to Tennesseans in need, according to a Bell news release. When hunters harvest a deer, they may donate it to Hunters for the Hungry at a participating processor.
Venison is processed for free or at a reduced rate and then provided to area food banks or soup kitchens. One deer provides as many as 168 meals of venison.
The Tennessee Sportsmen's Caucus is a bipartisan group of Tennessee state legislators interested in issues facing hunters and anglers in Tennessee. They work to support conservation policies and growth for sportsmen.