Steidinger Foods, Slagel Family Meats and Chenoa Locker were among the area processors contributing time and talents toward ground pork donations in 2020 through a fight hunger campaign.
As part of the campaign known as “Pork Power: Partnering to Fight Hunger in Illinois,” more than 101,000 pounds of pork was donated to food banks around the state. Donations were made by the Illinois Pork Producers, Illinois Corn Marketing Board and Illinois Soybean Association Checkoff.
Pork Power has generated over 922,000 pounds of pork since 2008 – which amounts to over three million servings for families around Illinois. Farmers and the partnering commodity groups work together to donate to the program year-round in order to help feed those in need.
“The Pork Power project is one of my favorite projects Illinois Corn invests in,” said Dirk Rice, ICMB Chairman. “As a farmer, I feel very connected to the job of feeding hungry people and this project allows all farmers all over Illinois to do just that.”
The Illinois Pork Producers Association turns remaining funds into ground pork toward the end of each calendar year and divides it among regional food banks in Illinois. As part of the year-end giving campaign, more than 47,900 pounds of pork was delivered to the food banks during November and December alone.
Midwest Food Bank in Bloomington was among those receiving pork in 2020 along with Central Illinois Food Bank in Springfield, Eastern Illinois Food Bank in Urbana, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Northern Illinois Food Bank in Rockford and the Peoria Area Food Bank.
