A renewed spirit of cooperation and compassion is taking shape this holiday season as local leaders and residents come together to support area Senior Citizen Centers through both a charitable deer hunt and direct financial donations.
The initiative, titled Deer Hunting for a Greater Purpose, will take place December 26–28 and invites hunters to donate harvested deer to help provide meals for seniors across the district. One hundred percent of each donated deer will benefit local Senior Citizen Centers. After bagging and tagging a deer, hunters are asked to deliver it to J&D Custom Meat Processing, located at 3825 Boone Rd. in Greenwood, where the meat will be processed and distributed to the centers.
To ensure the program’s success, community members have stepped forward to cover processing costs so that no financial burden falls on the Senior Centers themselves. Wade Dunn has committed to covering the processing fees for the first 10 donated deer, while Adam Watson will cover the next 10. J&D Custom Meat Processing has also agreed to process the meat at a significantly reduced rate of $40 per deer, making the effort both efficient and impactful. Organizers say additional sponsors, processors, and donors are welcome to join in and help expand the reach of the program.
Watson said the idea grew out of recent conversations about the growing challenges facing Senior Citizen Centers. “We heard about issues facing our local Senior Centers from the panel last week at Resident News Network’s event in Booneville,” Watson said. “No one’s pretending this solves the problem, but it’s a creative way to help. If others want to get involved, we can work toward making it a regular thing.”
Alongside the deer hunt, direct financial assistance is also being provided to address immediate needs that food donations alone cannot solve. Ted Tritt announced he will donate $250 to each Senior Citizen Center within the district after learning more about the financial strain centers are facing.
“Like many in our community, I was deeply concerned to learn of the serious challenges currently facing our Senior Citizen Centers,” Tritt said. “Even when food is available, it does little good if meals cannot be prepared because centers are struggling to meet basic payroll obligations. My hope is that this donation will help address urgent needs while complementing other charitable efforts already underway.”
The state senate candidates involved in the effort emphasized that the initiative is not about politics, but about people. The combined approach—providing both nutritious food through the deer hunt and immediate financial relief through donations—reflects a broader commitment to supporting seniors with dignity and care.
While organizers acknowledge that no single effort will solve the long-term funding challenges facing Senior Citizen Centers, they agree that working together across communities and campaigns is a meaningful step forward. As one supporter noted, when neighbors come together with creativity and generosity, real help reaches those who need it most—especially during the holiday season.
