Image via CCFB.
Pennsylvania’s Hunters Sharing the Harvest program connects hunters with local food banks like CCFB to provide wild game to those in need.
Did you know that there is a program that allows interested hunters to share their kills with those less fortunate?
The Chester County Food Bank (CCFB) is grateful to receive thousands of pounds of venison each year thanks to Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH) and generous local hunters.
HSH is a charitable program that connects hunters with butchers across Pennsylvania who are committed to providing venison, a healthy, lean protein, to local food banks. This initiative, combined with donations and advocacy efforts by local hunters, ensures that food is provided to Pennsylvanians in need.
Art Lyle of Backyard Bucks has long supported hunting efforts and CCFB. He says the group’s members are excited to be able to help by simply doing something they love: hunting. For him, though, it goes deeper.
“The main reason I got involved was because I grew up in a family of six and we didn’t always have food – or not much,” Lyle explained. “Sometimes we’d have bread or rice, and sometimes we’d go to the food banks. I’ve always said if I could ever find a way to give back, I would. That’s the same with Backyard Bucks: We just believe it’s the right thing to do.”
Lyle offered these tips for other hunter groups who might be interested in helping the Chester County Food Bank:
- Ask everyone attending your fundraiser to bring three non-perishable food items. Those who do so can win raffle tickets for a crossbow, muzzleloader, or other prize. This is a great way to collect lots of non-perishable food items for the food bank.
- Encourage every hunter to make a difference by harvesting and donating at least one additional deer.
- Help find landowners willing to open their land to hunters. Especially, lands where nonprofits like Backyard Bucks can hunt for free are desperately needed.
Hunters and hunting clubs who would like to participate can contact the following HSH participating butchers:
- Country Butcher Shop: 269 Long Ln., Honey Brook, Pa. 19344; 610-273-2629
- Fisher’s Butcher Shop: 48 Furnace Rd., Quarryville, Pa. 17566; 717-786-7398
- Foresta’s Market: 1098 W. Bridge St., Phoenixville, Pa. 19460; 610-935-1777
- Noble Road Butcher Shop: 1553 Noble Rd., Kirkwood, Pa. 17536; 717-529-9031
- Smokers Custom Butchering: 12 Old Leacock Rd., Ronks, Pa. 17572; 717-768-7046
Of course, the Chester County Food Bank is also grateful for gifts of nonperishable food items, grocery store gift certificates, and monetary donations. The CCFB is very grateful to its fellow hunters who support the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program, as well as to the food banks and neighbors it serves.
Learn more at Chester County Food Bank. Chester County Food Bank is Chester County’s central hunger relief agency and serves more than 160 partner organizations.
