As Georgia’s bow season officially opened last Saturday, hunters in Chattooga County are being encouraged to participate in the “Hunters Ending Hunger” initiative, transforming their venison harvests into a vital source of protein for local families and schools facing food insecurity.

The program, spearheaded by Chattooga County’s Helping Hands Ending Hunger (HHEH), aims to leverage the outdoor passion of local hunters to provide nutritious meals right within the community.

“Bow season and another year of Hunters Ending Hunger! Local hunters like YOU make a big difference for families right here in our community,” HHEH shared in a recent announcement, emphasizing the direct impact of donations.

Participating in the program is straightforward for hunters:

• Bring your legally harvested deer: All donations must come from legally taken game.
• Fill out a quick donation form: This ensures proper tracking and distribution.
• HHEH covers processing costs: The organization takes care of the expense, ensuring the venison is processed and ready for distribution directly to local schools and families in need.

The designated drop-off location for donations is Weesner’s Wild Game Processing, located at 4334 SR 114, Lyerly.

Helping Hands Ending Hunger, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is deeply committed to combating childhood food insecurity across the county. While primarily known for its innovative program that empowers students to rescue uneaten food from school cafeterias, the “Hunters Ending Hunger” initiative expands its reach, providing high-quality, lean protein that is often difficult for food-insecure families to access. The organization’s broader mission includes providing healthy, nutritious food to students and their families to take home, reducing food waste from schools, fostering leadership among students, and supporting educational and health equity.

For those who wish to support the initiative beyond hunting, financial donations towards processing costs are also welcomed and are tax-deductible through Helping Hands Ending Hunger. Community members who are not hunters can still play a crucial role by sharing information about the program and spreading the word throughout Chattooga County.

As the bow season unfolds, Chattooga County hunters have a unique opportunity to combine their love for the outdoors with a powerful act of charity, ensuring that more tables are filled with healthy, local food this fall. Good luck to all hunters this season, and thank you for supporting this impactful program.