Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation gave away 5,000 pork loins to anyone in need Dec. 1 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Starting at 5 a.m., Iowa Select employees opened the gates and began handing out free loins to everyone in line. The event ended at 9 a.m., after giving away more than 5,000 free pork loins.

“Pork loins are perfect for a memorable Christmas feast, and we wanted all Iowa families to be able to share a special meal this holiday season,” says Iowa Select Farms Communications Director Jen Sorenson.

For the first time in the seven years of the program, Iowa Select Farms has decided to expand Operation Christmas Meal across Iowa. Des Moines is one of 13 stops for Operation Christmas Meal. The Operation Christmas Meal team will also visit Iowa Falls, Webster City, Clarion, Creston, Osceola, Humeston, Parkersburg, Riceville, Osage, Lake City, Sac City and Pocahontas, where the team will be giving away 6,000 additional pork loins.

Operation Christmas Meal has provided over 504,000 Christmas meals to Iowa families. Operation Christmas Meal has become a holiday tradition for the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation with more than 120 Iowa Select Farms employees volunteering to brave the cold and hand out the pork loins.

The Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation was established in 2006 as a way for Iowa Select Farms owners Jeff and Deb Hansen to give back to the local Iowa communities in which they operate. One of the three areas of the foundation’s focus is combatting hunger in Iowa, as one in eight Iowans are food insecure. Each of the roasts provides 24 servings of lean, nutrient-rich pork.

“We are proud to be a homegrown Iowa company working in the heart of Iowa communities. Operation Christmas Meal is just one way for us to give our fellow Iowans a helping hand,” says Iowa Select Farms Founder Jeff Hansen.

With the first car in line in the early morning hours, Iowa Select employees were sporting Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, snowmen and reindeer costumes handing out the fresh, boneless roasts to a steady line of participants, many of whom took the time to share their personal stories of hardship.

During an especially difficult time for families in need, Operation Christmas Meal helps create a happy holiday for all Iowans. Families also received a recipe booklet filled with easy, delicious and economical ways to prepare the fresh pork loin roast.

Source:  Iowa Select Farms