CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Pictured are Mid Iowa Coop employees Jeff Heinrichs, Mike Vibbard, Mike Wuike (manager) and Shelby Dirks presenting Joe Hunt (middle), Elk member, with salt for the deer hide project.

Marshalltown Elks Lodge #312 is collecting deer hides again this year for the Elks Veteran Deer Hide Program. Some of the items the Veterans make with the leather are gloves used by those who are wheelchair bound, pillows, Christmas socks, moccasins and wallets. Locally you can find some of these leather goods at the gift shop at the Iowa Veterans Home. Deer tails are also being collected. Deer tails are used for fishing lures.

Mid Iowa Coop has been an avid supporter of the project over the years and again this year donated salt for the project. Local Elk members use the salt to preserve the hides until the hides are taken to a state collection center and then sent to be tanned and prepared for Veterans to use in leather projects.

Drop off locations are Kwik Star on South Sixth Street and East Side Tire and Auto at 1206 E. Main St. There will be marked barrels in which to place your hides. Place only cleaned hides as well as deer tails in the barrels.