Nov
19
ODNR Division of WildlifeWritten by:
11/19/2007
GRANT PROGRAM ASSISTS FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS
ATHENS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife has launched a pilot grant program in the cities of Coshocton and Marietta in an effort to assist with the processing costs associated with donating venison to a food bank.
“After evaluating the pilot effort, we will look towards expanding this program statewide” stated James Marshall, Assistant Chief of the Division of Wildlife. “Our hope is to establish a dedicated fund to provide money to help donate venison to food banks throughout Ohio.”
The grant program awards a $2000 subsidy grant to help to pay the processing fee on donated venison. The grant money awarded by the Division of Wildlife must be matched with $2000 of funds generated or collected by the organization that receives the grant.
Venison that is donated to food banks must be processed by a state inspected and insured meat processor. Hunters wishing to donate their deer to a food bank are, in most cases, required to pay for the processing of the venison. Organizations such as Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) and Safari Club International, as well as private meat processors have helped absorb the cost of deer processing in some areas. The grant from the Division of Wildlife is intended to further help with the costs of venison processing.
In Coshocton, the grant was awarded to the local chapter of FHFH. Last year 6,320 pounds of venison were donated to local, non-profit food missions in the Coshocton area. Meat processors that participate in the Coshocton area FHFH program are Olde Village Meats in Frazeysburg, Beitzel’s in Stone Creek, and Young’s Locker in Danville.
In Marietta, where there is already a waiting list of food pantries wishing to receive venison, the subsidy grant was awarded to the Marietta Community Foundation. The Community Foundation along with the Mid-OhioValley chapter of Whitetails Unlimited has provided the funds to match the Division of Wildlife grant. Hunters wishing to donate venison in WashingtonCounty can take deer to Warren and Son Meat Processing in Whipple.
Coshocton and Washington counties are typically in the top ten counties of the number of deer harvested in Ohio. In 2005 the cities of Coshocton and Marietta passed an ordinance to allow for restricted archery hunting within city limits.
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