Sunday, December 16, 2001
Several sportsmen organizations in the Mahoning Valley have joined the effort to help feed the needy.
In Trumbull County, the combined efforts of the Trumbull County Federation of Sportsman's Clubs and Jeff Platt of J.B. Custom Cuts of Cortland supplied 3-pound packs of ground venison for families to cook during the holidays.
The meat came from area deer hunters, local police departments and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife.
Hunters donated portions of their harvests, while other packages came from venison confiscated by DOW officers and deer that had to be put down by police departments.
Harvested, confiscated or otherwise dispatched animals are taken to Custom Cuts on High Street in Cortland where meat cutter Platt grinds the trimmed meat into venison burger. Processing is paid for by the Trumbull County Federation of Sportsman's Clubs, and the packaged burger is delivered to food kitchens in Trumbull County. This year, meat was delivered to the Warren Salvation Army, Warren Rescue Mission and the Church Mouse in Newton Falls.
Hunters who have extra venison are urged to share three pounds of it with the program. Meat can be dropped off at any of the agencies or at Custom Cuts. For information, contact the Trumbull Federation at (330) 534-2929.
Another group: The East Ohio West Penn Chapter of the Safari Club International is also helping to feed needy families with the group's recent Deer Hunter's Rendezvous and the SCI's Sportsmen Against Hunger campaign.
The local effort is part of the national SCI's larger goal to help feed the hungry in the United States.
According to SCI figures, the Sportsmen Against Hunger campaign has helped to provide 250 million meals annually in the United States since it began 12 years ago.
Acknowledged to be one of the first such hunger programs to utilize wild game, Sportsmen Against Hunger is now providing an online database of 4,500 licensed meet processors and more than 1,500 soup kitchens, food banks and related relief organizations for hunters and others to contact for assistance in providing meet and receiving help. Visit www.safariclubfoundation.org/sahoutlet.htm.
Area businesses and organizations featured on the Web site include:
UCustom Cuts, Cortland.
UPortage Frosted Foods on Day Street, Ravenna.
UValley View Turkey Farm, Titusville, Pa.
UHeath Market on Bishop Avenue, Oil City, Pa.
UWomen of Faith and Power Ministries, Warren.
URescue Mission of Mahoning Valley.
USalvation Army, Youngstown.
UCity Rescue Mission, New Castle, Pa.
UCommunity Services of Venango County, Oil City, Pa.
"As hunters, Americans and patriots, it is our ethical duty to be providers in our communities," said Gene Rurka, chairman of humanitarian services for SCI. "Sportsmen Against Hunger is an avenue by which this duty can be achieved."
braun@vindy.com