Empty freezers in over 80 rural food pantries are now full of boneless pork loins after the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation and Iowa Select Farms  donated  approximately 44,000 pounds of nutrient-rich protein to help feed Iowa families in need. The pork was delivered throughout June and July to local community organizations, food shelves and pantries across the state.

“We believe everyone deserves a good meal, and with kids home from school and food pantries depleted of much-needed meat, we make every effort to restock their freezers and help them with community meals,” says Jeff Hansen, president and CEO of Iowa Select Farms.

Donation of pork to 82 food pantries and organizations

ACKLEY FOOD PANTRY: Representatives of the Hansen Foundation and Iowa Select Farms delivered donated pork loins to New Hampton Food Pantry, part of an annual effort to replenish rural food pantries with 22 tons of nutrient-rich pork. Pictured left to right: Allison Rossman, Nancy Bartling and Jackie Walther.

During the recent donation period Iowa Select Farms’ refrigerated semi-truck traveled 1,567 miles to 54 communities and 82 food pantries. This year, the delivery team captured the unique story of each pantry and their volunteers, posting to social media throughout July.  “As we made our way across the state, we worked to capture the story of each pantry, their volunteers and the families they serve,” says Jen Sorenson, communications director at Iowa Select Farms. “Each pantry is unique in its own way and by posting our journey on our Facebook page and website blog we were able to spotlight each organization to help build awareness of hunger and food insecurity in rural communities.”

NEW HAMPTON FOOD PANTRY: Representatives of the Hansen Foundation and Iowa Select Farms delivered donated pork loins to the New Hampton Food Pantry, part of an annual effort to replenish rural food pantries with 22 tons of nutrient-rich pork.

In total, 808 cases of pork loins were distributed during this round of donations, and with the tremendous need for lean protein, pantries exhaust their supplies very quickly. “Many of our families simply can’t afford to buy meat,” says Gwen Simpson, coordinator for the United Methodist Church Food Pantry in Lamoni, Iowa. “Families in need will purchase the cheapest food options, however studies show those available choices may not always be the best source of nutrition. Receiving the lean and protein-rich pork loins means a lot to us and the families we serve, they are always incredibly grateful.”

Free information provides families recipes and nutrition tips

Each donated pork loin is being accompanied by a free 16-page booklet intended to provide families with information about how to properly store, handle and prepare the pork. The booklet also contains a collection of easy and economical recipes for families to prepare the pork loin into a full meal, and even make it stretch into several meals.

The boneless pork loins are approximately 4.5 pounds each and feed 24 people a 3-ounce serving of pork. The 808 cases of pork loin roasts donated by the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation and Iowa Select Farms will provide approximately 232,704 servings to Iowa families.

About the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation: The Hansen’s, who founded Iowa Select Farms and New Modern Concepts in Iowa Falls, Iowa, established the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation in 2006 to create programs and resources to relieve hunger, show gratitude to members of the Armed Services and their families and strengthen efforts to find a cure for childhood cancer while improving the quality of life for cancer patients.

About Iowa Select Farms: Iowa Select Farms is the largest pork producer in Iowa and is committed to responsibly producing safe, nutritious and high quality pork for their customers and the food companies they serve. Founded by and privately-owned by Iowa Falls natives, Jeff and Deb Hansen, the company has 165,000 sows and annually produces nearly one billion pounds of pork. With 700 swine farms across the state, Iowa Select Farms is one of the leading economic engines to Iowa’s rural communities through employing more than 1,000 people, contracting with more than 345 farmers and supporting hundreds of local businesses throughout the state.

LIST OF FOOD PANTRIES/ORGANIZATIONS SERVED

Osceola, Clarke County Food Pantry

Chariton, Inter-Church Council Food Pantry

Chariton, Kid’s Life Discovery Center

Leon, Clarke Co. Outreach

Lamoni, United Methodist Church Food Pantry

Mt. Ayr, Matura Ringgold County

Bedford, Matura Taylor County Neighborhood

Diagonal, Diagonal School District

Lenox, Ministerial Association

Lenox, Neighborhood Center

Corning, Matura Adams County

Creston, United Congregational Church

Creston, First Presbyterian Church

Creston, Matura Action Corporation

Afton, Union County Fairgrounds

Murray, Church of Christ Food Pantry

Lorimor, Lorimor Food Pantry

Iowa Falls, First Church of Open Bible

Iowa Falls, Hardin County Friendship Club

Iowa Falls, Riverbend Childcare

Ackley, Ackley Food Pantry

Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg Food Pantry

New Hartford, New Hartford United Methodist Church

Shell Rock, Shell Rock Food Pantry

Clarksville, Clarksville Food Pantry

Allison, Allison Food Pantry

Allison, Butler County Visions of Well Being

Dumont, Dumont-Aredale Food Pantry

Hampton, Ministerio Manos Al Arado

Hampton, Franklin County Public Health and Homecare

Hampton, Franklin County Food Pantry

Hampton, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church

Hampton, United Methodist Church

Alden, Alden Food Pantry/ Hilltop Village

Riceville, Riceville Food Pantry

Mason City, Mason City Homeless Shelter

Mason City, Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank

Nashua, Nashua Area Food Pantry

Lyle MN, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

LeRoy MN, LeRoy Area Food Shelf

New Hampton, Chickasaw County Food Pantry

Osage, Mitchell County Food Bank

Clear Lake, United Methodist Church

Charles City, Jordan River Messiah’s Food Pantry

Cresco, Howard County Community Action

Grundy Center, Grundy County Food Pantry

Jewell, Lord’s Cupboard

Story City, Loaves & Fishes

Zearing, Zearing-McCallsburg Food Pantry

State Center, Christian Community Cupboard

Nevada, Nevada Community Cupboard

Ames, Mid-Iowa Community Action

Ames, The Salvation Army

Ames, Emergency Residence Project

Ames, Food at First