West Virginia Wildlife from Eyewitness News

Hunters Helping the Hungry

Is your freezer full? Donate your deer to the less fortunate of West Virginia.

October 31, 2007
Reporter: Patrick McMurtry
Videographer: Brad Rice

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Thanks to west virginia's regulations, hunters can spend more than two months hunting deer with bows, rifles and muzzle loaders. For many, just getting out in the woods and getting a deer is enough. For those folks, we have a great idea-be one of the hunters helping the hungry.

Jerry Westfall/WV DNR says:
"A lot of hunters, for whatever reason, have decided that they have enough meat or they would like to contribute to West Virginia families, then they can do that by donating a deer that they harvested. It's a worth while program, it benefits needy families and it provides recreational outlet for hunters."

The hunters helping the hungry program has been around for years, and thousands of families have benefited from the free venison. You see, the donated deer stays right here in the state helping people that might live right down the road.

Jerry Westfall/WV DNR says:
"Meat is distributed by Mountaineer Foodbank and Huntington Foodbank to participating kitchens, senior centers, food pantries throughought the state of West Virginia."

And even if you don't hunt, there's a chance for you to help out. This sunday at church, you might want to think about dropping an extra dollar or two in the collection plate.

Jerry Westfall/WV DNR says:
"This weekend, Sunday November 4, the West Virginia Council of Churches is sponsoring what they call Share the Harvest Sunday. About 3,000 churches across the state of West Virginia are going to ask the congregation to donate $1 to Hunters Helping the Hungry program."

That money is crucial. Without it, the program would be in serious jeopardy.

Jerry Westfall/WV DNR says:
"Even though we receive deer from hunters and we receive discounted processing fees, DNR is prohibited from using state dollars so we are completely reliant on donations from individuals, churches, businesses and foundations."

This is one program where your donations stay in state, 100%, helping west virginians make it through the winter. Just like our forefathers did. For west virginia wildlife, i'm patrick mcmurtry, eyewitness news.