As part of Pork Power: Partnering to Fight Hunger in Illinois campaign, the Illinois Pork Producers Association has donated over 1 million pounds of pork to food banks since 2008. 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 program year-round to help feed those in need.

This week IPPA President, Cheryl Walsh, was joined by commodity partners Illinois Corn and Illinois Soybean, Illinois State Football Coach Brock Spack and Linebacker Tye Niekamp, 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, IPPA president. "We thank them for their generosity and, for those able to be here today, we thank you for joining us."

"This program 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 and hog farmer from Hampshire, Illinois. "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."

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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. Each time the ISU Redbirds scored a home touchdown, 20 pounds of pork was donated to the Midwest Food Bank.

IPPA thanks their generous sponsors Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Association and the Illinois Meat Processors Association.

Food banks that received pork donations in 2024:

IPPA encourages pig farmers to participate in the program by covering processing fees of their donated pigs. Farmers can go to the website to learn more about the donation process. This program would not be possible without the help of our commodity partners, local packers and processors across the state, and those who purchased a themed t-shirt that profited the program.

Related:Hoosier Hogs to Homes aims to deliver more ground pork to food pantries