Hunters Sharing the Harvest celebrates 25 years
Hunters Sharing the Harvest celebrates 25 years
By Tyler Frantz
Twenty-five has never looked better for Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH), the statewide venison donation program that works to distribute fresh meat to food banks and family assistance centers across the Commonwealth.
HSH is a non-profit charity that coordinates the processing and distribution of donated deer to needy families, earning it a reputation as one of the most effective social-service programs for hunters to make a difference. It has become a nationally recognized model after which many states have based their own venison-donation programs.
This year marked a special milestone for HSH, as it celebrated a quarter century of service, as well as the donation of its one-millionth pound of meat during a recent event at Central PA Food Bank.
Each hunting season, HSH strives to channel about 100,000 pounds of processed venison to the state’s 20 regional food banks, which then re-distribute the protein source to more than 5,000 local provider charities, such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters.
These donations help to provide the equivalent of more than 500,000 meals annually to feed the nearly 1.8 million Pennsylvanians (1 out of every 7 residents) who are considered to be food insecure.
Donations have been on the rise recently, especially since financial contributions from cooperating sponsors have eliminated the need for hunter co-pays at participating deer processors. As of last year, there is no longer a fee when a successful hunter donates his or her deer- likely a major contributor to HSH reaching its monumental total of 1-million pounds of donated venison.
“These numbers are a testament to the central mission of Hunters Sharing the Harvest,” said John Plowman, executive director of HSH. “Our dedicated team of board members, volunteer coordinators, food banks, legislators, state and local agencies work in concert with a common mission to help feed those in need. That’s when great things happen. We’re so proud to have reached this milestone.”
The PA Department of Agriculture also stepped up it’s role by increasing its funding through the Emergency Food Assistance Program to help defray the costs of processing donated venison. PDA bumped up its financial support from $125,000 to $140, 000 for this season to keep pace with rising hunter participation while still adequately reimbursing butcher shops for their time.
“Hunters Sharing the Harvest makes the connection between hunters who want to give generously, processors who want to contribute their services, and the charitable food system that strives to provide meals for millions of Pennsylvanians,” said state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.
“This program could not have reached this milestone without the support of sportsmen and women across the state. And with hundreds of thousands of hunters entering the woods, we want to remind them that there is an opportunity to combine their love of the outdoors and of hunting with a good cause that could benefit their neighbors.” The Pennsylvania Game Commission has long been a champion of HSH. Despite financial hardships of its own, PGC once again pledged to commit $20,000 in support of this worthy cause, urging hunters to do the same.
“We’re proud not only of the charitable need Hunters Sharing the Harvest helps to fill, but also about what the program shows about the generosity of Pennsylvania’s hunters,” PGC executive director R. Matthew Hough said. “We feel the easier we make it for hunters to donate, the more successful the program will be. So our hope is that our gift is one that keeps on giving.”
“There might be no greater act of kindness than feeding someone who is hungry, and, through their donations, it’s obvious our hunters understand that,” Hough said. “That generosity is something for which we all can be thankful, knowing we’re making a difference.”
The 25th anniversary is particularly significant for HSH, given the recent passing of its founder, Kenneth Brandt, this past October. Brandt, a former state legislator from Lancaster County, founded HSH in 1991 with a vision of helping others by using renewable resources of deer and wild game.
Hunters interested in participating in the program can take their deer to one of 115 participating meat processors throughout the state and donate any amount of their venison to the program. Pennsylvanians can also donate tax-deductable money to the Buck for the Pot campaign, which directly supports HSH. Please visit www.sharedeer.org for details.
0 Response to "Hunters Sharing the Harvest celebrates 25 years"
Post a Comment