Deer hunters can help feed the needy with their harvest.

Mark Demko By Mark DemkoThe Express-Times Follow on Twitter on October 28, 2013 at  5:00 AM, updated October 28, 2013 at  9:57

Lehigh Valley – With the archery deer season in full swing and the firearms hunting seasons one month away, sportsmen throughout the region will be looking to harvest a whitetail in the coming weeks and add some delicious venison to their freezers.

For anyone who is fortunate enough to take more than one deer this year, one great way to share some of that protein-rich, low-cholesterol meat with others is by making a donation to one of the region’s two venison donation programs — Hunters Sharing the Harvest and Hunters Helping the Hungry.

Founded in 1991, Pennsylvania’s Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH) channels approximately 100,000 pounds of ground venison annually to people and families in need via an extensive network of butchers and regional food banks, which in turn distribute the meat to more than 3,000 local food pantries, shelters and churches.  Similarly, New Jersey’s Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH) has made a huge difference in the communities it serves over the years, providing more than 450,000 pounds of venison to those who need it since forming in 1997.

Hunters Sharing the Harvest Chairman Rick Fetrow says that demand for assistance and ground venison has actually increased in recent years for more people have lost their jobs.

“A meal replacement like this through our food banks is a way for those people to get food without any questions asked,” Fetrow says. “We don’t ask for their names, we don’t ask for any background on them. All they have to say is they’re in need of some food and we’re there to give them a hand.”

While the primary way sportsmen contribute to venison programs is by donating a deer, individuals can also make a difference in other ways, including serving as a volunteer or making a contribution to help keep the programs running smoothly.

Both HSH and HHH are volunteer-run and can always use additional help, especially on the local level. In Pennsylvania, for example, each county has a volunteer coordinator who helps recruit butchers, attract local sponsors and donors and direct people in need to places where they can obtain venison.

“From our chairman all the way down to our county coordinators, a total stream of volunteers makes this thing work,” Fetrow says. “And we take donations from hunters, from private individuals and from companies. We take any donations any way we can get them to help this meat get through our system without creating any extra costs to the end user.”

Locally, the group has two county coordinator positions it would like to fill – one in Northampton County and another in Monroe County.

“The coordinator actually is our eyes out there on the road,” Fetrow says. “The coordinator is the person who goes out and makes the contact with the butcher with the extra businesses to help us try and find funds. He’s (also) kind of the first person to do inspections to make sure (the butchers) are up to compliance with our local compliance officers so we can bring this meat in through the food channels.”

Anyone who is interested in donating a deer, volunteering or making a monetary contribution to Hunters Sharing the Harvest or Hunters Helping the Hungry can contact the organizations through their websites. HSH can be reached at www.sharedeer.org or 717-545-1188