Over the past two weeks, the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation kicked embarked on their annual effort to Haul Out Hunger across rural Iowa. Iowa Select Farms employees delivered more than 50,000 pounds of fresh, boneless pork loins to 94 rural food pantries. The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows School District received 144 pork loins. Additionally, the Dows Food Pantry received 336 pork loins. Along with the fresh protein, 200 Henry’s Heroes boxes brought basic childhood needs to the food pantries.
“Everyone deserves to have some protein on their plate. We know that delivering pork loins to pantries allows people who might not be able to afford pork — or any meat, for that matter — an opportunity to pick up a pork loin, feed their kids and make sure they’re getting the nourishment they need,” said Jeff Hansen, President and CEO of Iowa Select Farms and co-founder of the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation. “As farmers, we passionately believe in giving back to the communities where our employees and contractors live and work.”
Henry’s Heroes Program brings children’s personal care items to hospitals, food pantries, and women and children’s shelters. The program was inspired by Henry Johnson, Jeff and Deb Hansen's grandchild and the son of Natalie and Jake Johnson. Natalie had the vision for Henry’s Heroes after she and Jake organized a donation of Henry's baby shower items to Blank Children's Hospital.
“We have all witnessed the pain in our world for the lack of even the most basic needs to raise a child, even in our own communities,” said Natalie. “From basics like bottles and diapers to more fun items like books, toys, and the cutest clothes, Henry’s Heroes brings joy to children and their caretakers when they are in most need.”
Kris Gunderson, Food Pantry Coordinator at the Community Basket Ida, Ida Grove, Iowa, explained that families in need struggle to secure necessities. “Something as simple as this pork loin and the diapers in this Henry’s Heroes box mean the world to the families who need it most. These small, kind gestures go a long way, and we are so grateful!”
During the six days that “Haul Out Hunger” was on the road, July 19-21 and July 26-28, Iowa Select Farms employees delivered 888 cases of meat and 200 Henry’s Heroes packages. Each meat case contains 12 pork loins, which will provide over 200,000, four-ounce servings of nutritious pork for families in need.
