December 10, 2024

Illinois, US pork organisation donates over one million pounds of pork since 2008

The Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) in the United States has donated over one million pounds of pork to food banks since 2008, as part of the "Pork Power: Partnering to Fight Hunger in Illinois" campaign.

By donating to the Midwest Food Bank, IPPA is now closer to its goal of 100,000 pounds available for families throughout Illinois. Farmers and partnering commodity groups have worked together to donate to the programme year-round to help feed those in need.

IPPA president Cheryl Walsh was recently joined by commodity partners Illinois Corn (IL Corn) and Illinois Soybean as well as Midwest Illinois Food Bank to donate over 5,000 pounds of pork processed by Steidinger Foods.

"We value the partnerships that we have with each one of these great associations and we know that this event is largely attainable due to their steadfast support," said Walsh.

"This programme holds deep personal significance for me and IL Corn because it highlights the meaningful role we play in providing protein to families in need throughout Illinois," said Cassie Dumoulin, IL Corn director. "As a hog farmer, I know how essential corn is in providing the nutrition our livestock need to thrive, and in turn, how those hogs help feed families in our communities. I'm especially thankful for the partnerships driving this effort because we achieve so much more when we unite behind a shared mission."

Towards the end of each calendar year, IPPA turns the remaining funds into ground pork and divides it among the regional food banks in the state.

Steidinger Foods delivered over 5,000 pounds of ground pork to the Midwest Food Bank and another 420 pounds was added to the donation from the Illinois State University Redbirds "Points for Protein" campaign.

IPPA encourages pig farmers to participate in the programme by covering processing fees of their donated pigs.

- National Hog Farmer