Veterans helping veterans. The Montana Veterans Meat Locker distributed meat to veterans at Messiah Lutheran Church on Saturday.
Each veteran received some combination of 12 to 15 pounds of deer, elk, moose, beef and pork.
Hunters donated big game and ranchers contributed beef and pork.
The church served a meal with the help of the West End Exchange Club.
Church members gave veterans winter clothing and groceries.
Fourth Avenue Meats processed the meat at a discounted rate.
The Billings-based meat locker gave a total of about 1,500 meat to veterans on Saturday.
“I get to see the spouses, I get to see grandchildren, I get to see everybody involved,” said Chris Grudzinski founder and director of the the meat locker and a veteran. “And I get to be the one to personally shake their hand and thank them for their service. A lot of veterans gave up hunting, But they just never forgot that they like the taste of venison, elk, anything else and this is a good treat. This is something they don’t do anymore and we can provide that flavor for them.”
In two years, the Montana Veterans Meat Locker has given away about 31,000 pounds of meat to 3,000 veterans.