Venison donation program supplements local food pantries
CHENANGO COUNTY – More than 1,140 pounds of ground venison was distributed through local food pantries last year, according to Roots and Wings Director Melinda Mandeville.
Every ounce of it was donated by hunters who chose to donate deer they killed during hunting season through the Venison Donation Program, coordinated locally through the Resource Conservation & Development office in Norwich.
While Chenango is one of 12 counties included in the Central New York region’s Venison Donation Coalition, it functions differently.
“Our venison doesn’t go from here to the state food bank for distribution,” explained Chenango County Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers, whose organization fully supports the program. “It is processed locally and then picked up by Roots and Wings for distribution here in the county.”
According to RC&D staffer Kim Totten, the program, now in its tenth year, has evolved since its inception. When it began, hunters were encouraged to donate venison, but were required to pay for processing the meat. Now, through a combination of private donations and state matching funds, the regional coalition pays for the cost to process the venison.
Last year 12,000 pounds of venison, approximately 48,000 servings, was distributed throughout Central New York as a result of the program, Totten said. Throughout the state, the coalition has processed in excess of 337 tons of ground venison, the equivalent of 2.7 million meals, since 1999.
In Chenango County, the amount of venison processed through the program has increased in recent years. According to Mandeville, her organization received 628 pounds of ground venison for distribution in 2007. Last year, that quantity jumped to 1,144 1/2 pounds, or approximately 4,578 servings.
Mandeville said she hopes they will receive even more of the local meat this year. There is an even greater need in the community, she explained, and the program plays an important role in helping her organization meet the needs of hungry families in Chenango County.
One of the reasons it is so important is that, unlike other meats which they purchase through the Food Bank of Central New York, the donated venison comes directly to them at no cost. They not only distribute the ground venison from their Norwich location, but also share it, and the cost savings, with other food pantries throughout the county.
According to Mandeville, the local venison is a popular commodity.
“They love it,” she said, speaking of the families and individuals who utilize her organization’s services. “It goes very fast.”
People will start inquiring about it soon, she added. “They start asking for it about the first week of hunting season.”
Hunters who wish to donate deer, can do so by taking them to one of the two designated processors in Chenango County: The Country Meat Shop on Burdick-Medbury Road in Norwich and the North Afton Deer Shop.
Deer must be legally tagged and field dressed (gutted), but otherwise intact, according to Patrick Ryan of The Country Meat Shop.
“They can have the rack,” he said, but only once he’s verified that the information on the tag matches the animal presented.
According to Ryan, who has processed venison for the program since its inception, said that each deer donated yields between 30 to 40 pounds of ground venison, depending on the size of the animal and where it has been shot.
Ryan said he supports the program, and recommends that any hunter who doesn’t intend to keep their venison for personal consumption should consider donating their kill to the program.
Even those who don’t hunt, or wouldn’t dream of parting with their hard earned venison, can support the program. According to Totten, financial contributions are also needed to ensure the Venison Donation Coalition’s success in curbing hunger in New York State.
These donations are even more important now than ever, she said, explaining that while the state match used to be 50-50, budget cuts have eliminated much of that funding. As a result, the coalition, which is a non-profit organization, has become almost entirely dependent on donations.
Those interested in making a donation, which help cover the cost of processing the venison, anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold. People can also send checks, payable to: Venison Donation Coalition, Inc., 415 West Morris Street, Bath, NY 14810.
For more information about the program, visit www.venisondonation.com or call 1-866-862-DEER.
Every ounce of it was donated by hunters who chose to donate deer they killed during hunting season through the Venison Donation Program, coordinated locally through the Resource Conservation & Development office in Norwich.
While Chenango is one of 12 counties included in the Central New York region’s Venison Donation Coalition, it functions differently.
“Our venison doesn’t go from here to the state food bank for distribution,” explained Chenango County Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers, whose organization fully supports the program. “It is processed locally and then picked up by Roots and Wings for distribution here in the county.”
According to RC&D staffer Kim Totten, the program, now in its tenth year, has evolved since its inception. When it began, hunters were encouraged to donate venison, but were required to pay for processing the meat. Now, through a combination of private donations and state matching funds, the regional coalition pays for the cost to process the venison.
Last year 12,000 pounds of venison, approximately 48,000 servings, was distributed throughout Central New York as a result of the program, Totten said. Throughout the state, the coalition has processed in excess of 337 tons of ground venison, the equivalent of 2.7 million meals, since 1999.
In Chenango County, the amount of venison processed through the program has increased in recent years. According to Mandeville, her organization received 628 pounds of ground venison for distribution in 2007. Last year, that quantity jumped to 1,144 1/2 pounds, or approximately 4,578 servings.
Mandeville said she hopes they will receive even more of the local meat this year. There is an even greater need in the community, she explained, and the program plays an important role in helping her organization meet the needs of hungry families in Chenango County.
One of the reasons it is so important is that, unlike other meats which they purchase through the Food Bank of Central New York, the donated venison comes directly to them at no cost. They not only distribute the ground venison from their Norwich location, but also share it, and the cost savings, with other food pantries throughout the county.
According to Mandeville, the local venison is a popular commodity.
“They love it,” she said, speaking of the families and individuals who utilize her organization’s services. “It goes very fast.”
People will start inquiring about it soon, she added. “They start asking for it about the first week of hunting season.”
Hunters who wish to donate deer, can do so by taking them to one of the two designated processors in Chenango County: The Country Meat Shop on Burdick-Medbury Road in Norwich and the North Afton Deer Shop.
Deer must be legally tagged and field dressed (gutted), but otherwise intact, according to Patrick Ryan of The Country Meat Shop.
“They can have the rack,” he said, but only once he’s verified that the information on the tag matches the animal presented.
According to Ryan, who has processed venison for the program since its inception, said that each deer donated yields between 30 to 40 pounds of ground venison, depending on the size of the animal and where it has been shot.
Ryan said he supports the program, and recommends that any hunter who doesn’t intend to keep their venison for personal consumption should consider donating their kill to the program.
Even those who don’t hunt, or wouldn’t dream of parting with their hard earned venison, can support the program. According to Totten, financial contributions are also needed to ensure the Venison Donation Coalition’s success in curbing hunger in New York State.
These donations are even more important now than ever, she said, explaining that while the state match used to be 50-50, budget cuts have eliminated much of that funding. As a result, the coalition, which is a non-profit organization, has become almost entirely dependent on donations.
Those interested in making a donation, which help cover the cost of processing the venison, anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold. People can also send checks, payable to: Venison Donation Coalition, Inc., 415 West Morris Street, Bath, NY 14810.
For more information about the program, visit www.venisondonation.com or call 1-866-862-DEER.
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