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OHA looks to help less fortunate By Mark Freeman When hunters get that deer or elk back from the butcher this season, they could think about the people not so fortunate. The Oregon Hunters Association would like sportsmen to set aside a few of those cut-and-wrapped deer or elk packages for the hungry. And maybe toss in a box of au gratin potatoes, cereal and canned goods to go with it. The OHA�s Rogue Valley Chapter this month is repeating its successful Oregon Hunters Against Hunger program. The Medford-based chapter is asking for donations of non-perishable goods and frozen big-game meat that will be collected this month and made into Christmas food boxes for less-fortunate families in the area. "The nice thing about it at Christmastime is, there are people who are getting by check-to-check and want to get some things for their kids," says Duane Dungannon, an OHA spokesman from Talent. "Here�s an opportunity for them to not worry about the food bill during the holidays." The OHA chapter began the program in 1994, and it has gained steam every year to a point where the chapter fills about a dozen large food boxes each holiday season. The chapter matches food boxes with the names of people given to the OHA. The boxes are stuffed with everything from deer and elk steaks to elk sausage and a regular host of perishables such as canned food and boxes of spuds, Dungannon says. When the program first started, hunters considered sharing a bit of their big-game wealth as the days crept closer to Christmas. Now, he says, many local sportsmen set aside some meat as soon as they pick up their deer or elk from the meat processor. "I think folks are starting to think of this now, when they bag their elk, and think, �Gee, I can part with a little of the meat�." The program is open to OHA members as well as non-members, but members have supplied the lion�s share of donations in previous years. Donations are accepted throughout the month, but the main collection day is Dec. 14. That is the next Rogue Valley Chapter meeting at J.J. North�s Grand Buffet, 1016 N. Riverside Ave., Medford. Chapter members tend to make their donations at the meeting, Dungannon says. Meat must be in good shape, frozen and properly packaged. Any excess food is turned over to ACCESS, Inc., in Medford. To donate meat, telephone the OHA�s Medford office in advance at 772-7313. Anyone who knows of a family who would benefit from a Christmas food box is also urged to telephone the association office. Staff writer Mark Freeman covers the outdoors for the Mail Tribune. Call him at 776-4470, or e-mail him at [email protected] ) Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.