Indiana Pork is taking aim at food insecurity across the state…one meal at a time.
The organization is coordinating donations of high-quality pork to food banks and pantries, helping families put nutritious protein on the table.
“One of the We Care principles that are Indiana pig farmers live by is community service. And that includes giving back to food pantries of churches, backpack programs, wherever there is the need,” says Director of Communications for Indiana Pork, Jeanette Merritt.
“Our Indiana pig farmers have, since the past couple of years, done a program with Fort Wayne tin caps where for every pork tenderloin that was sold during the summer, we would donate a pound of ground or a ground pork meal to their local food pantry. We replicated that program this year with the South Bend Cubs, and for every pork item that was sold in one of their concession stands, we donated a ground pork meal. We were able to donate 2000 meals to the food Bank of Northern Indiana, at a time where they told us, protein is incredibly hard to come by.”
During the holiday season, Indiana pork farmers also stepped up with donations of hams to help families celebrate with a traditional meal.
Merritt says the effort reflects more than just agriculture…it’s about service. Farmers see feeding their neighbors as part of their responsibility, not just their profession.
“As farmers, we have a backyard full of food. And we know that 1 in 5 kids go to bed hungry every night. 1 in 6 adults are hungry. The food insecurity issue is not going away. You know, as many donations as we can give, people still need help. And as farmers, we feel it is our duty to feed people. We like to say farmers feed our neighbors and, the need, as long as it’s there, our farmers will continue to provide and try to help.”
As food insecurity continues to challenge communities statewide, Indiana Pork says it remains committed to being part of the solution…through partnerships, donations, and a shared goal of making sure no Hoosier goes hungry.