Deer hunters provide for Food Pantry

BOATRIGHT DONATES DEER MEAT TO GODDARD

Tim's Deer Processing has agreed to serve as a processor for game that will be delivered to the Emanuel County Food Pantry, according to Mae Goddard director of the Pantry. In an effort to provide quality protein for those in need, a local church agreed to fund the processing of a limited number of deer so that the meat could be distributed by the Food Pantry for those in need.

Goddard said that this is a big help to give to those in need. "Many people think that the government gives us food to distribute. All that we distribute comes from donations, and right now we need more than ever to help those in need. This time of year we have so many more needy coming to us for help."

William Boatright of Tim's Deer Processing has agreed to provide this meat from hunters that do not want the meat from their harvest. He says that he has

costs involved in the processing, but he will be willing to accept donations of deer and processing costs to pass the meat on to the Food Pantry from hunters that wish to share in their bounty. Ms. Goddard reports that this year alone, 2,617 families consisting of 4,904 people have been helped by the Pantry. Of these 1,396 were children and 1,662 were seniors over sixty.

The concept of utilizing the bounty of hunters to feed those in need comes at a time when the numbers of hunters and deer harvested is actually declining, while the herd continues to grow. In a recent period of two weeks, fifteen accidents in the county were attributed to deer vehicle collisions. According to Georgia Outdoor News, the number of deer hunters from the 2001 season to the 2005 season declined 18.5%, with the decline in the number of deer harvested down 8.5%. Forty

four percent of deer hunters last year did not kill a deer. This program will permit those hunters who don't particularly want the meat to be able to provide for those who have real need for quality protein in their diets, while helping to control the deer herds to manageable numbers.

Tim's Deer Processing, which has been a tradition with local hunters for over 20 years, is a certified, inspected game processing plant. According to Boatright this is a "win-win" situation for everyone. "Many hunters don't want all their meat, and with the processing paid for by the donor hunter or others, the meat they don't care for can go to feed those who need the high quality proteins provided in the game," he said. "The hunters won't be wasting meat while helping to control the deer herds, and the Food Pantry can distribute it to those who truly need it."

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