Pork Producers Provide Holiday Meal for Struggling Iowans
Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation donated 17,000 boneless pork loin roasts during Operation Christmas Meal, a free pork loin giveaway for families who are unable to afford a Christmas meal this year.
Cars were lined up for hours ahead of the kickoff event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. Santa, Mrs. Claus and 120 Iowa Select Farms employees handed out 6,000 pork loins while broadcasted live on WHO Radio's Van and Bonnie in the Morning. This was the eighth year of Operation Christmas Meal.
“We believe in giving back, especially in the rural communities across the state that we call home,” says Jeff Hansen, CEO of Iowa Select Farms and co-founder of the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation. “Helping people is in the DNA of Iowa farmers, it’s just what we do.”
Iowa Select Farms employees also took Operation Christmas Meal "On The Go" to 12 rural communities.
"There is a lot of need, especially during the holidays when families are together and kids are home," says Doug Bates, farm manager of Last Chance Sow Farm outside of Derby, Iowa. "There's always more mouths to feed at Christmas, and to be able to provide a pork loin for a meal helps take away that worry."
