CENTER TWP — When Tom Rossman first got involved with Hunters Sharing the Harvest, only one agency in Butler County — Katie's Kitchen — was receiving venison from the program.

Today, the state program that donates extra venison from hunters to food pantries and community meals gives meat to 24 programs in the county.

Hunter's Sharing the Harvest started in 1991. The program coordinates processing and distribution of donated venison from hunters and herd reduction programs to people who are needy.

Last year in Butler, hunters donated 8,000 pounds of deer.

Rossman, the county coordinator for the program, said the 200 or so hunters who donated to the program last year are heroes. Rossman said the averaged-sized deer can provide enough meat for up to 200 meals.

The county is ranked number three in the state for donations in the program.

“I'd like to be number one,” Rossman said.

On Monday, the group dedicated its new freezer at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Center Township. Recently, the walk-in freezer was installed outside the church for the program's use. Rossman is a member of the church.

XTO Energy donated $17,000 for the freezer. Katie's Kitchen, a community meal sponsored by Lutheran churches, donated the remaining $6,000.

Rossman said that electrical contractor Hay Electric and DHT Construction, which did excavation work, gave the program a discount to work on the freezer.

“We appreciate all the help these guys gave us,” Rossman said.

For information on the program, contact Rossman at 724-283-0449.