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| Farmers donate pork for charity |
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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — More than 32,200 people receive emergency food each year through Terre Haute Catholic Charities Food Bank. Children and seniors, who are the most vulnerable, make up 45 percent of those served within Clay, Greene, Knox, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties.
Indiana Pork, in partnership with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, Inc. (FIsH) and the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA), donated 7,500 pounds of ground pork to Terre Haute Catholic Charities Food Bank on Feb. 26.
The donation is part of approximately 250,000 pounds of pork earmarked for Indiana through an ongoing campaign for Indiana pork producers and industry partners to fund a program to donate pork products to Hoosiers experiencing hunger.
The Million Meals program is designed to help thousands of Hoosier families with one of their most essential needs - high quality protein. These pork meals will be distributed statewide through the 10 food bank members of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, Inc., Indiana’s statewide network of food banks.
“Indiana donations of pork products have been in place for decades; however, this is the first time the Indiana pork industry is tackling the problem of hunger on a coordinated statewide basis,” said Mark York, Indiana Pork President.
“Indiana soybean farmers are committed not only to our partners in the livestock industry but also the citizens of our state. By donating to the Million Meals campaign we are able to support our hog farmers as well as provide an essential nutritional need for our food banks”, said Brad Burbrink, ISA director and soybean farmer from Terre Haute.
Established in 1973, Catholic Charities Terre Haute operates several nonprofit programs in the Terre Haute area including Bethany House, a homeless shelter; Ryves Youth Center at Etling Hall, a safe-haven for at-risk youth; Terre Haute Catholic Charities Food Bank, distributing nearly 2 million pounds of food annually to member agencies; the Household Exchange, distributing near-new and gently used household goods; and the Christmas Store, providing children, youth and families with Christmas gifts.
Catholic Charities Terre Haute is funded by corporate, foundation and private donations so that all programs are operated at no charge to its clients.
To learn more about the Million Meals Program, visit www.indianapork.com
FIsH is the statewide association of Feeding America affiliated food banks (formerly America’s Second Harvest). The 10-member food banks serve 1,500 agencies in all 92 counties, providing emergency food assistance to Hoosiers in need.
For more on Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, Inc., contact Emily Weikert Bryant at 317-396-9355 or ewbryant@feeding indianashungry.org or visit the website at www.feedingindianashungry.org |
| 3/3/2010 |
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