SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- People came together to kick off this year's Hunters Sharing the Harvest donation program. It allows hunters to donate deer meat to help feed the hungry.
The event at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank in Susquehanna Township marks the start of the 24th year of the deer donation campaign.
Hunters can take their deer to one of 90 participating meat processors throughout the state. The venison will then be donated to food banks, churches and soup kitchens. The program provides around 450,000 meals each year.
Joe Arthur, the Executive Director of the Central PA Food Bank, says "We need a little extra help this year. We need more hunters donating their deer and we need more help from the public. It is a tough year. We know we are going through a budget crisis. That actually impacts what we do."
53 counties in Pennsylvania participate in the program. Last year, hunters donated nearly 97,000 pounds of venison to more than 4,000 emergency food assistance agencies.