The program is coordinated through the Baptist churches in Essex County. The parent organization has provided over 7.4 million pounds, over 29.6 million quarter pound servings of lean meat since the program began in 1991 according to their website.
Hunters store the deer in a truck with Champlain. The Baptists pick it up and deliver to a processor who prepares it and returns it to the Baptists which later distribute it.
Cookie and Johnny Davis went to Essex County on Feb 19 and picked up a truck load from Rev. Roy Foster, Pastor of Upper Essex Baptist Church with 500 pounds of meat destined for Caroline County Social service. The Camden Hunt Club and St Peters both support the project.
The need for meat is even greater this year. The Free Lance-Star reported that “Fredericksburg was off 17 percent last season, more than double the statewide average drop of 8 percent.”
“Deer Project Coordinator Matt Knox notionally attributes the decline to unusually warm and dry weather across most of Virginia, conditions that can contribute to decreased hunting pressure.” Also the population is aggressively managed.