The Lanier Quality Deer Management Branch/Southern Heritage Land Company Hunters for the Hungry program in Gainesville gave out the last of its 2011 frozen ground venison recently. The grand total of venison for 2011 was 3,359 pounds for $3,359 spent, an all- time record in the seven-year program. 

Ten charities and three needy persons received the donations, including Good News at Noon, Gainesville Baptist Rescue Mission, Chattahoochee Baptist Mission, No One’s Alone women’s shelter, My Sister’s Place, Serenity House, His Harvest House (Free Chapel), New Hope Baptist Church, Riverbend Baptist Church and John Paul II Center.

Participating deer processors included North Georgia Processing in Lula and Hicks Deer Cooler in Oglethorpe County.

Lanier QDMA started the local venison processing program in 2006, but actually made its first donation of frozen ground venison in Dec. 2005, delivering 500 pounds of venison purchased from Hicks Deer Cooler to Good News at Noon. Since then, the two local organizations have cooperated in producing a seven-year grand total of 15,883 pounds, representing 79,415 meals.