At this year’s annual Hunting Show September 7, 8 and 9 the outdoors crowd will share a little of what they harvest.
Donations can be made at the admission of the enormously popular show celebrating its 20th anniversary at Toronto’s International Centre in Mississauga. Patrons are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items that will be donated to Mississauga’s Foodpath Foodbank. Last year well in excess of 20,000 people attended the event.
The donations are expected to be significant said Mike Reader, Executive Director of the 83,000-member Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, the provincial conservation organization that co-sponsors the three-day show. Last year, 1,200 pounds of food was donated to Toronto’s Daily Bread Foodbank.
“Most hunters have big hearts when it comes to donating and their generosity is certainly apparent during this annual fall hunt. Through an O.F.A.H. program called Harvest Share we’ve seen, literally, thousands of pounds of nutritious, fresh game meat donated to food banks during hunting season. This year’s hunting show will provide the outdoors community with another opportunity to help those people who are less fortunate by donating non perishable food items,” Reader explained.
Harvest Share is a program that has earned kudos from the hunting community, food banks and even local butcher shops. Many food banks fall short of protein rich foods and they welcome hunters’ donations of venison and moose. Food bank patrons have also clearly indicated their preference for wild game. However, due to lack of freezer space, only non-perishable food will be accepted at The Hunting Show where canned goods, preserves, boxed pasta and other non-perishables are gratefully accepted.
This is an excellent story and photo opportunity for media. Photo ops are scheduled from 3-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information about Harvest Share, contact O.F.A.H. Communications Specialist Mark Holmes at 705-748-6324, fax to 705-748-9577, or e-mail ofah@ofah.org.