Feature Story Hunting for hunger

Submitted photos

David Neier (in red) and his friend Caleb Bridges deliver venison to Harvester Christian Church food pantry.

sprung up about the church’s Backpack Impact Program. In that program, bags of food are delivered to a local school and then dispersed to over 50 students. That got the wheels turning. And soon he put two and two together. What if he donated his deer to help prevent hunger? And maybe others in the area would be willing to do the same. From that spark, Hunt for

Hunger was launched. The then nine-yearold Neier went door to door to spread awareness and to seek assistance. He went all around town and put multiple fliers up, a grassroots campaign he continues today. Josephville Meat Market has been part of the Hunt for Hunger campaign for multiple years. Wright City Meat & Sausage Company jumped aboard this season. “You have to take your hat off to the young man,” Gary Kreuger, owner of Wright City Meat & Sausage, said. “He is totally involved and is dedicated to it. All of this (deer) meat comes in at the same time and we rely on someone to get out and get it distributed and David stepped in and has taken care of it.”

After processing, the venison is distributed to several local food pantries in the region. Several of the pantries had never received venison before and were grateful to be able to share it with the families in the community that are struggling.

Michelle Smith is with the O’Fallon Salvation Army. Smith said that there have been times when the meat was scarce and Neier arrived just in time.

“Having venison is like an extra treat,” Smith said. “Many of them wish there was more. It is a great program and there are so many people who can benefit from it.”

Neier is a first baseman for the New Melle Blues and swims year-round with the Parkway Swim Club. But his greatest

Submitted photo

passion is the outdoors. He is an avid hunter, both bow, and gun and if possible during the summer he would spend every free minute fishing. His goal is to one day be a Missouri Conservationist.

“Fishing is a blast,” he said. “And we hunt mostly squirrel, deer, and turkey. We live deep in the country. (Hunting) is pretty much what we do.” Karen Gladieux is a community volunteer with Share the Harvest/ Operation Food Search.

“David is very passionate about getting food to those in need,” Gladieux said. “Meat is one of those things this is not often donated. It is a huge savings to the pantries. He has taken this on and has delivered 100-percent of it. He’s an impressive young man.”

Cathy Neier, David’s grandmother, has been instrumental in making sure David has all the support that he needs.

“David is so good at the pantries and just enjoys what he does,” she said. “It is overwhelming how many people these local pantries service.”