With hunting season starting November 15, there are plenty of opportunities for hunters to help the less fortunate.
The Broken Bow Elks Club is once again leading the way in collecting deer hides for the Elks’ Veterans Leather Program.
State Coordinator Earl Hansen of Broken Bow spoke to KCNI/KBBN about the program. According to Hansen, hides from across Nebraska are collected and shipped for processing in Tennessee, and then further processed to make gloves for veterans whose mobility is limited to a wheelchair. Other leather from the program is used in therapeutic crafting kits for veterans.
Through last year’s season, 8,425 hides were collected in 9 states, yielding free wheelchair gloves for 1,305 veterans. An additional 34,044 square feet of leather was donated by Elks to provide free craft kits for 8,929 recovering veterans.
Hides may be dropped off for donation at two dropbox locations in Broken Bow: on the north side of Gateway Motors, between the dealership and Armory Building parking lot, and Mean Creek Taxidermy on South 9th Ave. The Hides may also be left directly with Hansen at 1335 South F Street in Broken Bow.
Hansen may be contacted for questions or to volunteer at 308-880-1372.
Listen to the full conversation with Deer Hide Collection Coordinator Earl Hansen here:
