You may have to drive a ways –to either Arkansas, North Carolina or Tennessee– to find the nearest wild, free-ranging elk herd, but that does not diminish the passion that approximately 1,000 members of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation who live in Alabama have for elk. Nor does it deter them from raising funds to benefit RMEF’s mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat or our hunting heritage.
For example, thanks to fundraising efforts by Alabama volunteers, RMEF supplied financial support in 2011, 2013, 2018 and 2019 for the Hope Outdoors Leroy Thompson Memorial Hunt, a non-denominational Christian organization that provides a memorable outdoor experience to physically challenged and critically ill individuals and their families. It achieves this goal through hunting trips and outdoor fellowship in a Christian environment, at no cost to the hunters or their families.
“We would like to say ‘thank you’ to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for its continued support of Hope Outdoors and the message of hope we strive to bring to all of the families we come in contact with,” said Karen Sansing of Hope Outdoors.
The two-day 2019 hunt featured two youth and 23 adults, the largest turnout ever for the event and included local hunters and even a few from as far away as South Florida.
“We may not be strong in numbers in Alabama, but our volunteers are strong in resolve in supporting our mission,” said Brian Robinson, RMEF Alabama regional director. “Our volunteers believe that and act accordingly. We really appreciate their dedication and hard work.”
RMEF and its partners awarded more than $189,257 in grant funding for approximately 50 projects across Alabama to benefit archery, hunter outreach and advocacy, youth and adult hunts, natural resource education, outdoor skills instruction and shooting sports.
What are some of the highlights of volunteering in your state? Let us know by sending an email to hfraley@rmef.org.