Bryan County and area sportsmen can do their part to help provide a meal to less fortunate families this holiday season by donating to the Sportsman’s Pantry program.
According to Bryan County Commissioner and Georgia Hunting and Fishing Federation Vice President Jimmy Henderson, the Sportsman’s Pantry accepts donations of venison to provide to food shelters and meals-on-wheels charity programs throughout the state.
In the Bryan County and Savannah area, hunters can donate any type of deer meat to the program by taking the meat to Wise Brothers Processing in Savannah, Henderson said.
“You can bring a deer that’s already field dressed or not, or you can bring the whole deer,” Henderson said. “You can bring just a portion of the deer also, like shoulders or less desirable cuts of meat some people don’t really want. It’s all going to be ground up anyhow, so you can take any amount and it’s no cost to the hunter.”
Henderson said donating the meet is free because the program is sponsored by several organizations, including the GON Network, Georgia Hunting & Fishing Federation, Safari Club International and Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry.
“It’s just a win-win all the way around,” he said of the program. “Sportsmen can donate and it’s going to benefit someone they probably know.”
Henderson said the program began statewide last year and took in about 7,000 pounds of venison to give to various charities.
Locally, about 150 pounds were donated last year, he said, including about 25 pounds that went to the United Way of Bryan County’s Shepherd’s Supper program, which provides a weekly supper for low-income senior citizens.
Wendy Sims, director of Bryan County Family Connection, which works closely with United Way, said the donations went a long way last year.
“It was a big help, that was 25 pounds of meat that we didn’t have to purchase and we were able to stretch it a lot,” Sims said.

Venison can be donated until the end of hunting season, Henderson said. Wise said although their hours vary, they can be contacted through their business line at 912-920-9455. Wise Brother’s Deer Processing is located at 326 Bush Road in Savannah.
Henderson said charities who would like to get involved with the program can find out more information by emailing sportsmenspantry@gmail.com.

Read more in the Nov. 24 edition of the News.