Members of the Wrangell Fish and Game Advisory Committee and other local organizations met at the Salvation Army building on Dec. 11 to discuss how best to distribute this year's collection of moose meat.
As hunters in the area may know, moose are legal to hunt with proper permits, but only certain types of moose are legal to kill. If an "illegal" moose is killed, the meat is confiscated and the hunter is fined. An email from Chris Guggenbickler, with the advisory committee, reported that they have received quite a bit of confiscated moose meat this year: 136 packages of variously-sized roasts and 296 packages of hamburger. The meat is confiscated so it can be put to good use, donated to charitable organizations and people in need.
The main purpose of the meeting last week was to discuss how best to go about getting the food to those in need.
"The committee realizes there are many in our community that are struggling with the rising costs of food and freight," Guggenbickler wrote in a statement to the Sentinel. "The committee's intent was to disperse meat to those most in need. Unfortunately we understand there are deserving people we will miss. It is our intent to maintain and refine a list of worthy individuals."
The organizations present at the meeting included the Salvation Army, the Wrangell Cooperative Association, Head Start, and Island of Faith Lutheran Church. State Trooper Kyle Freeberg was also present for part of the meeting. Each group had their own list of people who wanted to receive some meat, which were cross-referenced and
duplicate names were removed. Those present at the
meeting then discussed how best to divide the meat, whether by just giving everyone an equal portion or by
giving those who truly needed it a larger portion. There was also talk of what groups had upcoming events, or what organizations that were not present could use some meat.
For example, the Seventh Day Adventist Church was suggested, as was the Wrangell Senior Center and senior apartments.
After some back and forth on each group's needs, it was decided that the Cooperative Association would receive about 63 roasts and 86 packages of hamburger. The Lutheran church would get a total of about 49 roasts and 98 packages of burger. Head Start would receive six roasts and 30 packages of burger. Guggenbickler said he planned to go to the Long Term Care center and senior housing to see if anyone wanted some of the meat, too. The remaining meat would be given to the Salvation Army. Each of these groups would then divide up the meat to people in their communities, as well as use it for their own events.
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