(La Porte County, IN) - A lot of donated food, including meat from animals shown during the La Porte County Fair, is being used to help fight hunger.

Operation Feed La Porte County this week gave about 15,000 pounds of meat to nearly 30 food pantries and soup kitchens countywide, said Steve Mrozinski, president of the fair board.  

A lot of the meat came from animals 4-H youth had in the show ring during the fair. Some of those animals were purchased during the fair auction and donated to the cause while the remainder came from local farmers.

Mrozinski said the animals were processed into mostly one-pound packages of ground beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb and goats.  He said donations of produce and over five tons of canned food collected during the fair were included in the giveaway.

“It worked out great,” he said.

Mrozinski said it was the most food given away in the history of Operation Feed La Porte County, which has existed for several years.