Clear out your freezer: Donate unwanted meat to benefit wildlife
Many of us have it, even if we choose not to admit it. A year-old package of chicken we forgot about in the back of the freezer. Maybe some old fish or ground hamburger that has slight freezer burn and is destined for the garbage can.
Instead of pitching that old meat, turn that trick into a treat for the many sick and injured animals being cared for and rehabilitated by the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. Those pounds of meat go a long way in feeding raptors, mammals and other native wildlife species that are in their care.
“The donated meats we receive provide important supplemental nutrition similar to what these animals would normally get in the wild,” said Sandy Cate, coordinator of Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. “These meats assist in the rehabilitation of injured animals that are likely to be returned to the wild.”
It is easy to donate your unwanted meat. Just call the center at (623) 582-9806 and arrange a time to drop off your donation. The donation is accepted by the center’s nonprofit auxiliary, which makes your donation and your mileage a tax-deductable charitable contribution – so everyone wins.
Frozen meats you can donate:
- Beef (whole and ground)
- Chicken (whole, breasts, skinless, etc.)
- Fish
- Game meat (venison, elk, quail, rabbit, etc.)
Founded in 1983, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Center treats more than 1,000 sick and injured animals annually, and provides wildlife education to local schools and outreach to community groups. The center’s mission is carried out with a small budget from the state’s Heritage Fund, making fundraising an important contributor to the care of the animals.
The Heritage Fund, a voter-passed initiative, was started in 1990 to further conservation efforts in the state, including protecting endangered species, educating children about wildlife, helping urban residents to better coexist with wildlife, and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation. Funding comes from Arizona Lottery ticket sales.