PDA Secretary: Hunters Urged to Share the Harvest

Maybe some of you hunter/umpires might be interested in this.

Harrisburg – Hunters can help food banks, soup kitchens and pantries feed Pennsylvanians in need by donating deer meat to a statewide distribution network, said Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding today.


Redding visited Diller’s Custom Deer Processing in Enola, Cumberland County, to promote Hunters Sharing the Harvest, a program that encourages hunters to donate deer for processing into ground venison for the state’s hungry residents.

“With more than 1.3 million Pennsylvanians at-risk for hunger, it’s important for everyone to lend a hand,” said Redding. “I encourage hunters to do their part by donating to the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program.”

Hunters can take their deer to one of 125 participating meat processors throughout the state and identify how much of the venison – from several pounds to the whole animal – they wish to donate. 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 $0.85 per pound of venison donated towards reimbursing meat processors.

Established in 1991, Hunters Sharing the Harvest today covers 53 participating counties and provides more than 750,000 meals annually to food banks, churches and social service feeding programs. Last year, hunters donated nearly 100,000 pounds of venison to more than 4,000 emergency food assistance agencies through the state’s 21 regional food banks.

“Across Pennsylvania, the number of citizens at risk for hunger increases every year,” said Kendall Hanna, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. “Hunters Sharing the Harvest provides food that is high in protein and lean. We are extremely grateful for hunters’ participation in the program and for their support of Pennsylvanians in need.”

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

District IV Baseball Umpire Clinic

The District IV baseball umpire clinic has been scheduled for the second Saturday in March, March 12, at Danville High School. This is a great way to prepare for the new season, work out those winter "kinks" and learn a few things, too. Put this on your calendars now so you won't miss it!

Also, remember the Northern Tier rules interpretation meeting will be February 20 at 2:30. Remember you need to attend an interpretation meeting to keep up your certification. If you can't make the 20th, the Lycoming Chapter is on the 13th at 3:30 at the Little League offices in Williamsport, the Shikellamy Chapter is also on the 13th at the ASA Hall of Fame in Sunbury at 1:00 and the Susquehanna Chapter is on the 16th at 7:00 p.m. at Lackawanna Trail High School in Factoryville. Let's make sure we attend one of these to avoid any unpleasantness! For other scheduled Interpretation meetings go to http://www.piaa.org/.