TRINITY OAKS

SAN ANTONIO, TX – San Antonio-based nonprofit, Trinity Oaks, assisted Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in a Nilgai harvest where volunteers took 80 Nilgai from the 97,000-acre refuge in South Texas. Volunteers are packaging the estimated 24,000 pounds of game meat to distribute over the next few months to soup kitchens, battered women’s homes and orphanages throughout Texas and northern Mexico. In all, the meat will make over 120,000 protein rich meals.

“We can’t think of a better way to give back the natural bounty with which God has blessed us than to process and provide this amazing meat to those in need,” says Tom Snyder, Founder and Chairman of Trinity Oaks. “Working together we can impact a lot more lives.

The exotic antelope species are known to host cattle fever ticks which are capable of carrying Babesia, a parasite that causes cattle fever and poses a serious threat to the Texas cattle industry. Reducing the Nilgai population is seen as one means of controlling the tick from spreading to neighboring ranches. The Nilgai meat is not infected by the parasite and is safe for human consumption. The Nilgai hides will be burned to ensure control and eradication of the tick.

“We extend special thanks to Kyle Lehne and Suncoast Resources for underwriting all of our expenses, and to David Gaither and Chemjet for donating refrigerator trailers on these especially hot days,” says Brittany Hosmer, Trinity Oaks Executive Director.

Founded in 2007, Trinity Oaks uses hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities to give back and make a difference in the lives of others. Programs and services are for underserved populations such as veterans, youth, terminally ill and disabled, who benefit immensely from the outdoors, but otherwise would not be able to afford the experience.

The nonprofit’s “Meat Mission” program processes and distributes over 9,000 pounds of game meat per month, equating to providing more than 1,500 meals per day, for hungry children, families, and homeless. Meat is also dried and smoked to send to our troops overseas.