As Kentucky’s deer season begins, a Logan County organization is giving back to the community through its annual deer drive.
Christian-based non-profit Open Hearts Open Hands holds a deer drive every year, accepting donations of excess meat from hunting season and distributing it throughout the county to those in need at no cost.
The drive began as a small endeavor in 2020 with a singular deer meat donation from Josh Goodhue. Through the past few years, deer drive volunteer Peyton Woodward says the program has grown exponentially, receiving around 6,500 pounds of meat total. Last year was the biggest year yet for the organization, accepting roughly 4,000 pounds in donations. This year, they are hoping to double that amount.
The group has five different shuttle locations throughout Lewisburg, Russellville, Auburn and Franklin to transport the deer to the main station to be processed. This year, Woodward, Goodhue and the rest of the volunteer team are processing and packaging the meat entirely themselves.
From there, the meat goes out into the Logan County community, says Woodward.
She adds she is very appreciative of all the donations the organization has received thus far.
The deer drive began on Sept. 5, the opening day of Kentucky’s archery season, and the organization will stop accepting donations at the end of rifle season in January.
For more information, visit the Open Hearts Open Hands Annual Deer Drive Facebook page.
