Hunters Sharing the Harvest donates deer to Pennsylvania food banks, soup kitchens

The program kicked off its 20th year today at an event in Cumberland County. Nonhunters can donate money to the program, which collected nearly 100,000 pounds of venison last year.

View full sizeExpress-Times File PhotoHunters Sharing the Harvest allows Pennsylvania hunters to donate deer to food banks and soup kitchens.

Hunters have an opportunity to help feed the hungry by donating venison to Pennsylvania food banks, soup kitchens and pantries through the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program.

Agriculture Secretary George Greig joined legislators, processors and hunters today to kick off the program’s 20th year during an event at Diller’s Custom Deer Processing in Enola, Cumberland County, according to a news release. Through the program, hunters donate deer for processing into ground venison for distribution to those in need throughout the Commonwealth.

“Nearly 1.4 million Pennsylvanians are at risk for hunger in one of the most productive agricultural states in the northeast,” Greig says. “By donating their venison to this program, our hunters can help combat hunger in the Commonwealth.”

Hunters can take their deer to one of more than 100 participating meat processors throughout the state and donate any amount of their venison – from several pounds to the whole animal -- to the program. Anyone donating an entire deer is asked to make a minimum $15 tax-deductible contribution to help cover processing costs. The program covers all remaining fees.

The Department of Agriculture, through the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program, contributes $1 per pound of donated venison toward reimbursing meat processors.

Hunters Sharing the Harvest provides programs with more than 750,000 meals. Last year, hunters donated nearly 100,000 pounds of venison to more than 4,000 emergency food assistance agencies in 53 participating counties through the state’s 21 regional food banks.

“Each year, the Hunters Sharing the Harvest Program brings thousands of pounds of highly desired venison to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank,” says Kendall Hanna, executive director of the regional food bank. “The families we serve look forward to venison being available each year, and since 2001 we have distributed more than 103,000 pounds of the nutritious, high-protein product for their tables.”

Pennsylvanians can also donate money to the Buck for the Pot campaign, which supports Hunters Sharing the Harvest.

To learn more about the program or to obtain a list of participating meat processors, visit sharedeer.org, or call 866-474-2141.