(Indianapolis, IN) - The task seems much greater for hog farmers nationwide to donate enough hams and other pork products to feed the hungry this time of year because of inflation.   The annual “Give-a-Ham” challenge by the National Pork Producers Council is kicking off in states like Indiana.                                        

 

Indiana Pork donated nearly 400 large hams to Gleaners Food Bank in Indianapolis on November 16th, where requests for assistance have gone up significantly at the pantries they serve in 21 counties throughout central and southern areas of the state.

 

Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler were among the dignitaries on hand when the donation was made at the food bank at 3737 Waldemere Avenue.                                    

 

Jeanette Merritt, a spokesperson for Indiana Pork, said the donated hams were given away at the food bank’s drive-thru window to people waiting an hour or longer in a line vehicles streching more than a half mile long.

 

“It was very eye opening to see how great the need still is.  It doesn’t look like it’s going away,” she said. 

 

Pig farmers and others involved in the pork industry across the country are encouraged through social media to donate to organizations serving people with food insecurities.  From there, the challenge works its way down to members of the general public, who are asked to give to inform neighbors and others in need on where they can go for their next meal. 

 

Governor Eric Holcomb, for example, answered the challenge from Crouch to donate a ham.  Fred Glass, CEO and President of Gleaners Food Bank, accepted the ham from the governor and challenged Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to donate a ham to someone in need.  Participants can share their donation stories on social media using the #GiveAHam and #Poundsofham.                                                  

 

National Pork Board President Heather Hill, an Indiana hog farmer near Greenfield, called food insecurity a big issue even among children in households struggling to put enough food on tables. 

 

“Many of those are people that we know,” she said.                                                                                                                   
Development Director Katie DeForest of Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry Fund said her organization near Ft. Wayne has received 30% more requests for meat from food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the state.  So far, DeForest said all of the needs have been met but she wonders how long depleting supplies will last without meat donations coming in at a quicker pace.

 

“I don’t know if we’ll be able to keep it up" ,she said.

 

The La Porte Salvation Army reported a 60% increase in requests for food boxes at Christmas in the communities it serves about 20 miles south of Lake Michigan.  The increase is about 30% with requests for children toys. 

 

"Times are getting more difficult and those needing assistance are increasing,” said Major Charles Pinkston.                                               

 

Pinkston, who previously worked at Salvation Army branches in the other states, said any increase in need for food and toys from year to year, typically, is in the single digits.                                                                                                                                             

“We usually see slight increases from year to year but nothing like the increase here this year,” he said.