About 1.4 million Pennsylvania residents — which equals about 10.9 percent of the state’s population — are described by the state’s Department of Agriculture as “food insecure.”

As defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food insecurity means a lack of consistent access to enough food to remain active and healthy.

A recent study by Feeding America, a domestic hunger-relief organization, found that one in eight people face food insecurity in Pennsylvania and across the nation. Butler County did slightly better than that average, with one in 10 county residents struggling with the issue

However, one in six children in the county are food insecure, the study found.

Now add to this already existing problem an eight month-long pandemic — so far — that has put shop owners out of business, led to job losses and caused great stress.

Even worse, the number of COVID-19 cases appears to be quickly on the rise once again.

In other words, more people are likely to be food insecure this holiday season than usual.

So, it’s great to see a local program involving hunters doing its part to address the problem.

The Department of Agriculture is encouraging deer hunters — especially those with more than one tag — to consider donating deer to the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program. Some are already taking part in the initiative.

Hunters Sharing the Harvest, which was founded in 1991, originally started with the goal of distributing 100,000 pounds of venison across the state. Last year, the program donated more than 160,000 pounds of venison to food banks and food pantries — which state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said resulted in 882,000 meals.

The program’s state coordinator for the western region said the initiative sets a higher goal each year — and ends up breaking records annually.

This is great news. We’re glad to see this great program operating within Butler County at such a vital time when so many people are struggling more than during your average year.

“It reminds me what a difference a single act of sharing can make,” Redding said of the program.

We hope hunters this year who can afford to do so contribute to this excellent program.

— NCD