Donated deer hides turned into gloves for disabled veterans

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri hunters are giving disabled veterans a helping hand.

The hunters donated thousands of raw deer skins to Elks Lodges around the state. The Elks then turn the hides into fingerless gloves for veterans who use wheelchairs.

Last year, Missouri hunters last year donated 4,729 deer hides for the national Elks Lodge's veterans-glove program.

Byron Moore, a leading knight at the Bolivar Elks Lodge, said he hopes hunters donate 5,000 hides this year.

The Elks pay for the tanning and the gloves are provided free to the veterans.

One of the beneficiaries is Robert Hicklin, a disabled veteran from Carthage who living at the Mount Vernon Veterans Home. He said the gloves help him grip the hand rims on his wheelchair.