Deer culling programs aimed at reducing the deer population in Roanoke, Salem, Bedford and Blacksburg do more than curtail deer-car collisions and reduce shrubbery casualties.

Deer collected through the programs are taken to local meat processors, and the meat, or venison, is donated to Hunters for the Hungry.

The Big Island-based organization in Bedford County has been distributing venison to local food banks such as the Southwest Virginia Food Bank in Roanoke since 1991.

That year, the organization distributed 33,000 pounds of meat. About 333,000 pounds were distributed in 2004, and the goal for last year, which is still being tallied, is 350,000 pounds.

"That's roughly 7,000 deer," said Laura Newell-Furniss, director of Hunters for the Hungry.

A drop in charitable donations last year, however, could cause the organization to fall short of its goal. Newell-Furniss won't know the exact total until she receives the final processing bills for the year.

Those processing costs can add up to an expensive total.

"We normally say on average it costs about $35 to process a deer," she said. "But that can go up to about $50 a deer."

Roanoke, Salem and Bedford pay for the processing costs of the deer they donate to the program. Blacksburg makes a yearly charitable contribution to the organization.

Other contributions help pay for the processing costs of deer donated by hunters during hunting season.

"That's always been the limiting factor on how much of this very good, nutritious food that we can provide," she said. "It's based on how much funds we can raise for that processing."

Hurricane Katrina's devastation of New Orleans has affected local contributions.

"You had all the natural disasters and lots of charitable giving went to help relieve the efforts down there in the gulf," Newell-Furniss said. "So we did not raise the money we hoped to raise."

Still, Hunters for the Hungry continues to strive to increase its distribution of meat to those in need.

"We are trying to grow each year and do more good because there just is such a need out there for the food," Newell-Furniss said.

Tax deductible contributions can be made to: Hunters for the Hungry, P.O. Box 304, Big Island, Va. 24526.

To contact the organization, call (800) 352-4868 or e-mail h4hungry@cs.com