Indiana Pork is helping fight hunger in Vanderburgh County with a donation of $5,000 worth of ground pork to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. This contribution will provide thousands of protein-rich meals for local families facing food insecurity.
“Indiana’s pig farmers care deeply about their communities and are committed to giving back,” said Chad Martin, Director of Strategic Outreach at Indiana Pork. “Our farmers operate under the We Care principles, where one of the pillars is Community Service. Our farmers take pride in serving the food insecure. We know how important access to nutritious, high-quality protein is, and we are proud to support the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in serving families who need a helping hand.”
The Certified Indiana Bred program provided the funding for this award. Indiana Pork awarded the top-performing participants in the Skillathon series by placing those names in a drawing during the 4-H pig show at the Indiana State Fair. Casey Schillinger of Vanderburgh County was the lucky winner of $5,000 worth of ground pork to donate to a food pantry of her choosing.
“I chose to donate to St. Vincent de Paul because I know they serve so many people,” said Schillinger. “I would encourage other young people to give back because there are a lot of people facing food insecurity, and it’s important we are part of the solution.”
Ground pork is a versatile, nutrient-dense protein that can be used in many family-friendly meals, from spaghetti to tacos to casseroles. The donation is part of Indiana Pork’s ongoing, multi-faceted effort to address food insecurity across the state by working with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry statewide food pantries, smaller local pantries, and other hunger relief organizations.
“This donation is an answered prayer,” said Ashley Newell, Executive Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. “Last year, we served over 31,000 individuals, which is equal to more than 340 tons of food. We are seeing a 20% increase in the need over last year. The ground pork donation is a four-month supply that helps us provide a nutritious addition to their grocery bag.”
The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry is open four days a week and accepts food and cash donations to support the families they serve. The ground pork donation from Indiana Pork will add nearly 3,000 pounds of ground pork, providing 12,000 meals to the guests of the food pantry.
Please note, Boone County 4-H’er Lane Merrill was eligible for the Skillathon prize. While his name was not drawn as the winner, he decided to have his pig processed and donated it to the Thorntown Food Pantry.
For more information about Indiana Pork’s community giving programs, visit www.indianapork.org.
