Georgia hunters can help feed the hungry

  • Earlier this fall, Georgia Wildlife Federation’s Sportsman’s Programs Specialist John Guthrie (left) and Sportsman’s Programs Manager Adam Schiavone dropped off more than 800 pounds of donated deer meet in Uvalda. CONTRIBUTED
    Earlier this fall, Georgia Wildlife Federation’s Sportsman’s Programs Specialist John Guthrie (left) and Sportsman’s Programs Manager Adam Schiavone dropped off more than 800 pounds of donated deer meet in Uvalda. CONTRIBUTED
  • Donated deer meat processed at The Meat Shed on New Phoenix Road in Eatonton was later distributed to nearby food banks. CONTRIBUTED
    Donated deer meat processed at The Meat Shed on New Phoenix Road in Eatonton was later distributed to nearby food banks. CONTRIBUTED

    Since 1993, hunters have provided meat to the tables of those in need through the Georgia Wildlife Federation’s Hunters for the Hungry (GWFHH) program.

    This year, through a partnership with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (GNR-WRD), funding for the program was significantly increased, providing for a new goal of 120,000 pounds of donated venison processed by the end of the 2024-25 hunting season.

    GWF President and CEO Mike Worley credited the Georgia General Assembly for increasing an appropriation for Hunters for the Hungry in the DNR budget this year.

    “Partners within the agricultural community, legislative leadership, leaders in the effort to feed the hungry, and hunters recognizing the importance of our hunting ethic all came together to expand this initiative,” Worley said.

    “There are a lot of deer in Georgia, and there is a lot of food insecurity. Hunters are often referred to as the original conservationists, and responsible management of our deer herd is a critical part of that conservation ethic,” he added.

    Venison is a high-protein, low-fat, organic meat, and Georgia hunters can help get this quality protein from the woods to a deer processor, to a local food bank, and onto the tables of those who need it most.

    “The Hunters for the Hungry program makes it easy to give back through one of nature’s greatest resources,” GWF Sportsman’s Programs Manager Adam Schiavone said. “Harvesting one extra deer this season would provide around 160 meals for your local community.”

    Hunters interested in participating in the GHFTH program can bring field-dressed deer to any designated drop-off location during the processor’s regular business hours. A list of participating processors can be found at gwf.org/ ghfth. The closest participating processors in Lake Country are The Meat Shed in Eatonton ( 478258-0019)

    and Garner’s Grinder in Sparta (706-444-9228).

    Once the meat is processed, it will be distributed to partnering food banks in the communities in which it was donated. For more information about how to get involved, contact Lee Walker at 770-787-7887 or lwalker@gwf.org.