Hunters for the Hungry low on meat donations

With the last day of hunting season approaching Saturday, a food distribution program in Bedford County hopes to bag a late push in deer meat collections at a time when giving has declined.

Hunters for the Hungry set its sights on collecting 400,000 pounds of venison in 2011, but has seen an estimated 25 percent drop in donations — equal to about 100,000 pounds, said Laura Newell-Furniss, executive director.

Since starting in the early 1990s, the Big Island-based program has harvested and distributed 4.5 million pounds of venison and set new records each year. The high mark, in 2010, was just less than 408,000 pounds of deer meat distributed. 

“We have been able to grow every single year of our program,” Newell-Furniss said. “We’re looking at the first year where that will not be the case. I am pretty brokenhearted about that.”

There is a chance the program could meet the 2011 projections in the final days of hunting season, she said. More than a week ago, she sent notices to all hunters who made donations in 2010 and asked them to consider giving a deer. She also urged about 80 processors across the state that work with the charity to help spread word of the need.

The economy is the main reason donations are down, she said, with many holding on to harvests or giving them to family and friends in need. Financial giving was down 20 percent in December, she said, though some ground has been gained recently in that shortfall.

The need of local food programs is rising at the same time the ability for many kindhearted donors to give is less, she said.

“I just think people are feeling more pinched. I know I am personally.”

The charity works with many area programs, such as Lynchburg’s area food bank, the Daily Bread and churches. Five servings of lean protein is served from every dollar raised, which Newell-Furniss described as cost effective.

“They know it’s a very high-quality product,” she said of the venison distribution.

Another potential factor in the drop is less deer seen among hunters, she said.

Jim Scrivener, manager of the Lynchburg branch of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and a hunter, said new fees this year may have kept some from hunting.

Venison is much appreciated at the food bank and by those who seek its help, he said.

 “It’s very lean, a very good type of meat,” he said, adding the food is used quickly when available. “It’s a big help.”

Joe Albert, owner of Greenvalley Meat Processors in Amherst County, has participated in the program for years. On Wednesday, the business processed about 1,000 pounds for a local food bank. For the past two years, he said he’s cut about 400 deer combined; each deer produces about 35 to 40 pounds on average.

The program helps hunters who need an option for deer disposal, aids in controlling the animal population and works to support localities’ hunger needs, Albert said.

“It helps such a wide variety of people. It’s a great program and I’m glad to be part of it.”