Missouri Department of Conservation

EDIA

ELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: November 3, 2009

CONTACT:

Dan Zarlenga, Metro Media Specialist636-300-1953 ext. 235Dan.Zarlenga@mdc.mo.gov

Hunters can donate deer meat to feed the hungry free of processing charge this year

St. Louis—As archery and firearms deer hunters take to the woods this fall, they’ll bedoing their part to help manage the deer herd. They can also help alleviate hunger inthe St. Louis area with the Share the Harvest Program. And this year, thanks to twolocal organizations, hunters can donate deer meat to Share the Harvest without payingany processing fees.The statewide Share the Harvest Program is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation and is a cooperative effort between hunters, meat processors and localcharitable organizations. It provides food to the hungry through deer meat donated byhunters. Hunters can choose to give part or all of any deer they take. They bring their deer to an approved meat processor to process the venison, usually into ground meat,where it is then packaged for distribution.In the past, hunters have had to pay part of the processing costs for deer they donate toShare the Harvest. However this year, because of the efforts of two charitableorganizations, Operation Food Search and the Denny Dennis Memorial Fund, deer donated to approved processors will be processed completely free of charge to thehunter.

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Share the Harvest reimburses approved processors $40 for each deer given to theprogram. However this covers only about half the processing cost. Operation FoodSearch, a new Share the Harvest partner this year, will subsidize the remaining $40,making processing completely free for donating hunters.“We have a very simple mission . . .” said Craig Goldford, director of food resources atOperation Food Search, “. . . to provide individuals in need with food and other basicnecessities to help them alleviate the burden of hunger.”The facility operates out of a 25,000 square foot warehouse facility in University City,complete with industrial-size freezers and refrigerators. Goldford describes OperationFood Search as a “master pantry” that provides food to some 300 food banks within a 75mile radius of St. Louis. It obtains all food through private donations and delivers it tothe food banks free of charge. This food ultimately reaches about 120,000 people inneed each month.Share the Harvest has a limited amount of monies available for each processor. Oncethis limit is reached, another organization, the Denny Dennis Memorial Fund, will kick into subsidize the Operation Food Search contribution. The Denny Dennis Memorial Fundis named in honor of the late founder of Denny Dennis Sporting Goods in Fenton andhas been a long-time sponsor of the Share the Harvest Program.While breads and carbohydrate products are commonly donated, fresh meat isn’t alwaysavailable, Goldford noted. “Where we always find a challenge is in protein,” he said. “If we can get as much protein as we can get our hands on, that’s a good thing.” Freshvenison provided by local hunters offers a source of lean, healthy protein.Gary VanMatre has heard food pantries echo that same need for fresh meat. VanMatreis a Conservation Agent and coordinates the Share the Harvest Program in St. LouisCounty for the Conservation Department. According to him, everyone he works withsees the program as a win-win situation. He observed that the program gives huntersthe chance to pursue their passion for hunting and help feed the hungry, all while playinga critical role in controlling deer numbers.