MISSOURI, USA — St. Louis area residents struggling with high food costs this holiday season can easily get fresh meat thanks to a decades-old partnership between Operation Food Search and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).
Share the Harvest is a statewide partnership that helps hunters donate deer they hunted to help feed more than 200,000 people in need throughout the St. Louis region, MDC said. Fresh protein, like venison, is the most popular and in-demand item sought in Operation Food Search.
"We're making good use of our resources here in the state of Missouri," said Ashley Synder with Operation Food Search. "[The meat] is fresh, it just came from the butchers and it's something people look forward to in the fall."
The long-running program dates back to the 1990s. Operation Food Search has been a partner since 2017. The non-profit says the program plays a vital role in helping serve area food banks.
Area butchers are also eager to lend a helping hand with Share the Harvest.
"It's something we believe in." Michael Kolisch is the owner of two of the participating meat processing locations, - John's Butcher Shoppee in Overland and Festus. "A lot of places that have too many [deer right now]. People who like to hunt for no charge can donate the meat. It's kind of a win-win."
Hunters interested in participating in the program should bring their hunted deer to the following deer processing centers:
St. Louis
- Kenrick’s Meats and Catering, South St. Louis County
- John’s Butcher Shoppe, Overland
St. Charles County
- Josephville Meat Processing, Wentzville
Jefferson County
- John’s Butcher Shoppe, Festus
"Meat processors typically charge around $100 to process a deer into ready-to-prepare meat," MDC said on its website.
"(The Conservation Federation of Missouri) has funding to cover $75 for hunters donating whole deer statewide. Operation Food Search now contributes an additional $30 per deer. Cooperating processors in St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson Counties agree to limit their deer processing fees so there is little to no net charge for donating hunters. All members in the partnership work together to help alleviate the costs for hunters who donate their entire deer."
Synder said it's important to the program to help cover costs for partners, so fresh meat can be distributed throughout the community.
Deer harvested in counties within the CWD Management Zone must be tested and can only be donated through a processor participating in the CWD-testing program. The following counties are included:
- Adair
- Audrain
- Barry
- Barton
- Bollinger
- Boone
- Caldwell
- Camden
- Carroll
- Cedar
- Chariton
- Christian
- Clark
- Clay
- Clinton
- Cole
- Crawford
- Dallas
- Dent
- Douglas
- Franklin
- Gasconade
- Greene
- Grundy
- Hickory
- Howard
- Howell
- Jasper
- Jefferson
- Knox
- Laclede
- Lewis
- Linn
- Livingston
- Macon
- Madison
- Maries
- McDonald
- Mercer
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Newton
- Oregon
- Osage
- Ozark
- Pemiscot
- Perry
- Phelps
- Polk
- Pulaski
- Putnam
- Randolph
- Ray
- Ripley
- Saline
- Schuyler
- Scotland
- Shannon
- Shelby
- St. Charles
- St. Clair
- St. Francois
- Ste. Genevieve
- Stone
- Sullivan
- Taney
- Vernon
- Warren
- Washington
- Webster
