On the edge of Savannah, Georgia, a row of coolers stands outside Wise Brothers Processing. Inside, skinned deer are packed in ice, waiting for their final preparations—cubes, ground meat, or sausage—depending on what hunters order. Once ready, the meat is neatly wrapped and stored in the freezer until hunters return for it.
This scene is pretty typical for deer hunters, who often turn their catches into food for their families. However, much of this meat doesn’t go back to the hunters. Instead, it’s destined for a soup kitchen in Savannah.
Debra Wise, who runs the business with her family, explains, “The charity feeds over 250 people three times a day.” This year alone, they’ve already sent 500 pounds of ground venison to the Old Savannah City Mission.
The Wises are part of the Georgia Wildlife Federation’s Hunters for the Hungry program. Hunters in Georgia can harvest up to 12 deer each year, and many don’t have the storage for all that meat. Hunters for the Hungry allows them to donate their extra catches. The program has seen increased funding—now at $350,000 annually—which has helped expand from six processors to 56. They’ve also added freezer trailers for storage. This year, they aim to collect 140,000 pounds of donations, which could feed about 560,000 people, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Wise enthusiastically shares, “They asked if we wanted to take part, and we jumped at the chance. Helping others is important to us.”
Each processor donates meat and shares it locally. While the initiative aims to alleviate hunger, it often serves urban areas. Most processors are rural, resulting in many donations remaining in those communities.
Interestingly, nearly 15% of families in Georgia face food insecurity, which means they struggle to access enough food. According to Feeding America, this problem is more pronounced in rural counties. Hancock County, for example, has the highest rate of child food insecurity in the country, at 47%. Nationwide, 86% of the counties with the worst food insecurity are rural.
The irony is stark: rural areas often produce a lot of food, yet many of those who work in agriculture lack reliable access to it. Georgia is a leader in farming, known for its poultry, peanuts, and much more. However, the food usually goes through extensive processing and distribution before reaching grocery stores, meaning that rural families often have to rely on the same stores as those in cities.
Vanessa Shonkwiler, a professor at the University of Georgia who studies local food systems, points out, “Not every area has the same access to food, and our system needs to adapt.” She notes that community collaboration is key for solutions to work.
Organizations, churches, and universities are trying various methods to tackle rural hunger. Some are exploring options like mobile grocery trucks or self-service stores set up in shipping containers. These models aim to reduce costs and make essentials more accessible.
However, many of these projects now face challenges due to funding cuts, like the recent 43-day government shutdown that halted crucial support for food-aid organizations. Some rural programs have closed temporarily in response. For instance, federal grants that supported various food initiatives in rural Georgia were recently canceled, leaving many families uncertain, especially as the holiday season approaches.
But communities are finding ways to support one another. Beyond the Hunters for the Hungry program, Wise Brothers Processing often donates meat to local families in need. Debra recounts a recent story of helping a family with a sick child by providing venison, highlighting the joy it brings to their lives. “We know what it’s like to need help, and we’re grateful to give back,” she says.
In a world where food insecurity persists, both rural and urban communities are showing resilience and kindness, proving that support can come from the most unexpected places.
