DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Elks Lodges are taking in deer hides which are transformed into physical therapy kits and wheelchair gloves for veterans.

The program started over 20 years ago and is aimed at making sure every part of the deer is utilized, while also giving back to the community. Elks Lodges around Iowa collect deer hides and deer tails, often unused pieces of the animal.

Members will then clean and salt the hides to ensure they are ready for the tannery. Once they are prepared the hides are then packed into a box. At the end of deer hunting season the boxes will be picked up from lodges around the state.

Due to the cold and windy conditions the preparing of the hides is no easy task. Elks Lodge #98 upgraded their cleaning and salting station last year.

“Last year we created our own little deer hide hut that’s out of the weather and we don’t have to use our garage space,” said Terry Henson the Secretary for Elks Lodge #98. “We’ve got shelves in it, a heater in it, and so the guys that do it don’t have to do it out in the cold.”

The hides are then transformed into gloves for veterans in wheelchairs and leather working kits that serve as good physical therapy for veterans. The kits allow veterans to make a variety of items including gun sleeves, coats, belts, and moccasins.

“We’ve had craft sales where we have brought them in, or they have their own crafts sales, and some make some nice stuff,” said Henson. “I’ve seen leather jackets that had fringe all the way around it, to me in a store that would be a $500 jacket. These guys make them and sell them, and they get the money so it’s a win-win for everybody.”

The lodge encourages people to bring in their hides and if they don’t hunt but know others who do, to pass the message along.

Bill Geiken has been part of the Elks Lodge for 11 years and he’s been helping collect deer hides.

“While I’m not a hunter per say, I have a lot of friends that are and so we’ve spread the word with our other friends that do go deer hunting that the deer hide program that the Elks run is a fantastic program for our vets,” said Geiken.

Iowa often ranks second in the nation in number of deer hides collected through the program. The West Des Moines Elks Lodge recorded over 3,460 gloves given to veterans in wheelchairs and an estimated 8,378 kits being delivered in one year.

“It ends up back in the hands of the vets, which is really one of the tenants of the Elks Lodge, is to support our veterans,” said Geiken. “So that’s why we do it”

To learn more about where you can donate your deer hide visit the Elks Lodge website.