IARN — A yearly social media campaign that encourages people across the country to donate pork to organizations serving the food insecure kicked off Monday morning in Des Moines.
The National Pork Producers Council’s annual ‘Give-A-Ham’ challenge kicked off at the Food Bank of Iowa. The campaign runs through the end of the year. Jen Sorenson, president of the National Pork Producers Council, says last year’s effort yielded more than 15 million pounds of pork to help those facing hunger in the U.S.
“This challenge is a holiday tradition and one that is my favorite,” said Sorenson. “It reflects how this country’s 60,000 pork producers – who work so hard to raise safe and nutritious protein – are also practicing one of our ‘We Care’ principles: giving back to our communities and being good neighbors.”
VIDEO: Give-A-Ham Kickoff Press Conference
Food Bank of Iowa President and CEO, Michelle Book, addressed the great need for protein donations year-round, especially during the holidays, to make sure no Iowan goes hungry.
“It’s a thrill to be here again, especially this time of year as heating bills are escalating and food prices are increasing,” said Book. “We’ve been told to expect a five percent increase for food prices into 2022, so it’s more important now today than ever before. We can’t wait to reap the benefits of the Give-A-Ham challenge as we make sure that no Iowans go hungry this season.”
Sorenson adds meat is one of the most expensive items to purchase and most needed donations for food banks.
“Though we call our challenge the Give-A-Ham,” Sorenson said, “we want everyone to know that they can donate any pork product in our campaign to help food banks and pantries in their mission.”
The annual Give-A-Ham campaign provides an opportunity to add nutritious, lean protein to America’s food banks – including Food Bank of Iowa, which serves 677 partner agencies across 55 Iowa counties.
Participants are encouraged to share their stories on social media using the #GiveaHam hashtag.
