Hunters for the Hungry and four other charities were honored as recipients of grants from the Walmart Foundation at a check presentation last week in Roanoke.

The funds will help the local charities to combat hunger. The $25,000 grant to Hunters for the Hungry will help the organization accept deer that hunters donate this hunting season. Its goal is to provide 325,000 pounds of meat this year, enough venison to supply 1.3 million quarter-pound servings.

The check presentations were held at a Walmart Supercenter in Roanoke as part of the first graduation ceremony for the new Walmart Training Academy.

Laura Newell-Furniss, director of Hunters for the Hungry, said, “This gift of $25,000 has come at the perfect time, as we are making preparations for the upcoming hunting season, and financial support is a critical factor in the program’s ability to carry out our mission. Walmart has been and continues to be a tremendous supporter of our effort to provide quality lean meat to people in need.”

Since the program began in 1991, the deer hunters of Virginia have donated more than 6.38 million pounds of meat, enough venison to provide 25.5 million quarter-pound servings.

It is easy to donate. Just take your legally harvested, field-dressed deer to a processing location. For a complete list of processors and collection sites, visit www.h4hungry.org.

Walmart Market Manager Jade White expressed support for the program, saying, “Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are delighted to support Hunters for the Hungry with this contribution so they can provide food for those most in need.”