ONEONTA _ Fewer people will go hungry in Delaware and Otsego counties during the upcoming year, thanks to a dinner in Oneonta on Saturday, organizers said.
The venison donation program of Otsego and Delaware counties of the Conservation Alliance New York held its annual fundraising dinner at the Holiday Inn. There were 68 sponsors of the event, including The Daily Star.
Last year, $11,102 was raised through the meal, silent auction and various raffles, said chairman Al Bowers. A total for this year was not available Saturday.
The money is used to process venison donated by hunters. The venison goes to food programs run by Opportunities For Otsego and Delaware Opportunities, said Jim Losie, who started the local program about seven years ago with Bowers.
The balance of the funds each year are used to purchase ground beef for distribution to the same organizations.
"When we started, there were four sponsors and 25 people at the dinner," Losie said. On Saturday, he said, there were about 280 people at the event.
Tim Green of Worcester said Saturday that this was the fourth year he has been involved. He is an outdoors man and an avid hunter, he said. "It's a good cause."
