Hunters can help out the hungry again this year.
The Share the Harvest program is under way, offering hunters the opportunity to donate their harvested deer to feed the needy. When venison is donated in Callaway County, most of the time it will go to SERVE, Inc. Other area charities also may benefit.
Joel LeMaster, a member of the board of directors for the Central Missouri Chapter of Safari Club International, volunteers during deer season to take processed deer meat to SERVE. He also solicits hunters to donate to the cause.
Hunters bring their deer to a processor who participates in the Share the Harvest program and let the processor know how much of it is to be donated toward the program. LeMaster explained that the processing fee is paid in part by the Conservation Federation of Missouri and the Missouri Department of Conservation. The Safari Club donates locally toward the fees as well.
For more information on the program or processors, contact Earl Cannon with the Safari Club at 573-636-4292 or Conservation Agent Todd Houf at 573-220-5266.