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Missouri doing it's part to 'Share the Harvest'

KAHOKA, Mo. (WGEM) -- Unemployment in American has topped ten percent, that means more Americans are heading to food pantries. And with those same pantry's already feeling a food crunch, many are turning to hunters to replenish supplies.

Saturday was the start of the deer hunting season in Missouri. For Larry Young that means the freezers at his butcher shop are packed full. But not all of this meat is going back to the hunters.

Larry said, "From the very beginning we have always done share the harvest. And it's grown from year to year. And you know it benefits people in need. Really in need"

Larry says this year, even more hunters are giving to those in need. Larry commented, "There are people who want a deer for themselves and donate one. And it's the most economical thing they can do. And it's really a heartfelt thing, you know."

That's something Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has noticed. He visited Kahoka on Saturday to tour the local butcher shop to see how the increased funding is already helping out.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said, "We are going to continue to move those forward so that whatever supply there are and whatever hunters are willing to share in their harvest, that we are going to get that into our food bank and food pantry system across the state."

For those families in need in Missouri, that means a lot more food to put on the table this year. If you want to donate your deer to the share the harvest event, you can visit http://mdc.mo.gov/hunt/deer/share/ for more details.