Area deer hunters supporting food bank ministry

Greene County FHFH Chapter Coordinator Brady Miller says the program is off to a great start.

"We've processed 61 (as of Monday), but we've already exceeded the number we did last year. That comes out to 1,661 pounds of venison. Of course, we'll be taking deer all the way until the end of the seasons. The response has been real good." Miller told the Greene County Daily World. "We are still wanting to get more."

The goal this season is 90 deer.

Each pound of venison provides four servings that is made into ground meat.

"It's easier to process, package and then easier to handle. Folks can do all kinds of stuff with burger," Miller said.

The program is simple for the hunters.

Successful farmers and hunters follow normal check-in permit procedures defined under states regulations.

Farmers and hunters then deliver the harvested surplus deer to the meat processor -- Bloomfield Processing Company, located on State Road 54, just west of Veteran's Memorial Bridge.

Donations cover the costs of processing, packaging and freezing the meat.

Last year, the program put more than 6,000 servings of low-fat, high protein venison on the tables of hungry families in the county.

This year, the group wants to be able to put more than 10,000 servings into the mouths of those who may otherwise go to bed hungry.

Early archery and firearms season ends Nov. 29.

Muzzleloader season runs Dec. 5-20, while late archery starts Dec. 5 and ends Jan. 3, 2010.

Miller said the program is an opportunity for visitors to hunt and donate their deer kill to a worthy cause.

"If folks are visiting and they want to go hunting, if they shot sometimes they don't have the means to do anything with it (the deer) or don't want to do anything with it. We'll certainly take it off their hands and put it in the right hands. That's what we are about."

Miller, who lives in the Calvertville area, says there appears to be a greater need at the local food pantries because of the down turn in the economy and possibly that has more hunters thinking about donating their killed deer to help out those in need.

"Maybe people are realizing that there are people in bad shape and there is a need," Miller pointed out.

Deer venison is low fat, high in protein and low in cholesterol.

Miller explained that the entire deer is processed into ground meat because it's the easiest and most efficient way for the processing plant to handle it. In addition, it provides the recipients with many food preparation options.

It can easily be used as a substitute for beef.

So far this year, Miller has delivered processed venison to nine local food pantries:

* Roosevelt Mission in Linton.

* SonShine Shop in Worthington.

* Bloomfield First Baptist Church.

* Open Arms Christian Home near Switz City.

* Lyons First United Methodist Church.

* Linton Community Food Pantry.

* Jasonville Assembly of God.

* The Lighthouse in Newark.

* Solsberry Christian Church.

"If there are other churches out there that do holiday food baskets or if there are other food pantries, I'd like for them to get a hold of me to make sure they get some meat too. We want to kind of spread it around as much as we can," Miller said. "We've got a local outdoor ministry group that has kind of taken on the program."

One of the group members, Mike Toon, of Bloomfield says, "This is just a great way for hunters who are passionate about a sport to provide food for kids and families in Greene County. ... This is just a great match-up for us to give something back to the community."

With the growing number of deer in this area, crop and property damage permits are being issued to farmers to harvest the deer. Farmers have the opportunity to reduce the numbers of deer seriously damaging their crops during the regular hunting seasons and through the use of deer management permits farmers can harvest additional deer both during and outside of the normal hunting seasons.

Brian and Mary Kollmeyer, who operate the processing plant, will take care of the required program and state DRN paperwork.

There is no cost to the hunter or the farmer to make the donation.

Call Bloomfield Processing at 384-4512 to make arrangements to drop off the deer.

Miller can be contacted by calling (812) 876-9699.

"If there is anyone who would like to donate to our mission we certainly are always looking for more funding. That enables us to process more deer."