Hunters Donate 114,252 Meals to Families in Need

To view a slideshow of Turkey Hunters Care images, visit http://www.nwtf.org/nwtf_newsroom/press_releases.php?id=12767

EDGEFIELD, S.C.     During the 2008 holiday season, National Wild Turkey Federation Chapters in the U.S. and Canada donated 19,042 frozen domestic turkeys     the equivalent of 114,252 meals to families in need through it Turkey Hunters Care Program.

Through the Turkey Hunters Care program, local NWTF chapter volunteers from 363 NWTF chapter teamed up with church ministries, food pantries, children's organizations, homeless shelters, National Guard units and other civic service organizations to donate frozen turkeys.

"The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are times for family, but they are also a time when many families are in need," said NWTF CEO George Thornton. "Turkey Hunters Care is a great way for the NWTF's volunteers to help these families during some of the most celebrated holidays of the year      and the enjoyment of a hot holiday feast is a memory that will last, even after the holiday season has ended."

Since the inception of Turkey Hunters Care in 2001, more than 90,778 turkeys have been given out to families in need, the equivalent of 544,668 meals.

The NWTF is a national nonprofit conservation organization that was founded in 1973 and has worked with wildlife agencies to restore wild turkey populations from 1.3 million wild turkeys to nearly 7 million today. Now, NWTF's volunteers raise funds and work daily to improve critical wildlife habitat, increase access to public hunting land and introduce new people to the outdoors and hunting.

For more information about the NWTF's Turkey Hunters Care program, call (800)-THE-NWTF or visit www.nwtf.org.

About the NWTF:  In 1973, Tom Rodgers founded the National Wild Turkey Federation in Fredericksburg, Va., as a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation and education organization with a mission dedicated to conserving wild turkeys and preserving hunting traditions. Shortly thereafter, Rodgers relocated the NWTF to Edgefield, S.C., where it's still headquartered today.
 
At the time NWTF was established, there were only 1.3 million wild turkeys. Today that number stands at more than seven million birds throughout North America, thanks to the efforts of state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members and partners.

Growth and progress define the NWTF as it has expanded from 1,300 members in 1973 to nearly a half million today. With that growth has come impressive strides in wildlife management as the NWTF has forged dynamic partnerships across the country to further its conservation mission. Together, the NWTF's partners, sponsors and grassroots members have raised and spent more than $286 million upholding hunting traditions and conserving nearly 14 million acres of wildlife habitat.
 
While wild turkey restoration is nearing completion, the NWTF still has much work to do. Across North America, supporters are working to enhance habitat for wild turkeys and other wildlife while providing hunters with more opportunities and access to public and private land. In addition, NWTF volunteers and partners are introducing youth, women and people with disabilities to the outdoors through special educational events.
 
If you would like to become a member of Team NWTF, join a committee or start a chapter, please visit our Web site at www.nwtf.org or call us at 800-THE-NWTF.