Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation Stocks Rural Iowa Food Pantries with Pork and Childcare Items

IOWA FALLS, IOWA (June 18, 2019) — This week the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation kicked off their annual effort to Haul Out Hunger across rural Iowa. Iowa Select Farms employees will deliver more than 60,000 pounds of fresh, boneless pork-loins to 120 rural food-pantries. Along with the fresh protein, a new Foundation program called Henry's Heroes will bring basic childhood needs to the food pantries. "The unfortunate reality is that too many Iowans are in need, especially during the summer months. We hope the pork loins and supplies from Henry's Heroes will bring some," said Jeff Hansen, President and CEO of Iowa Select Farms and co-founder of the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation. "As farmers, we passionately believe in giving back to the communities where our employees and contractors live and work." Henry's Heroes Program brings children's personal-care items to hospitals, food pantries, and women and children's shelters. The program was inspired by Henry Johnson, Jeff and Deb Hansen's grandchild and the son of Natalie and Jake Johnson. Natalie had the vision for Henry's Heroes after she and Jake organized a donation of Henry's baby shower items to Blank Children's Hospital. "We have all witnessed the pain in our world for the lack of even the most basic needs to raise a child, even in our own communities," said Natalie. "From basics like bottles and diapers to more fun items like books, toys, and the cutest clothes, Henry's Heroes brings joy to children and their caretakers when they are in most need."  Debbie Tillman, Food Pantry Coordinator at the Lenox Neighborhood Center, Lenox, Iowa, explained that families in need struggle to secure necessities. "A lot of the essential items infants and children need may not be covered by food stamps or government nutritional programs." During the six days when "Haul Out Hunger" is on the road, June 17-19 and 24-26, Iowa Select Farms employees will deliver 1,022 cases of meat and 120 Henry's Heroes packages. Each meat case contains 12 pork loins, which will provide 240,000, four-ounce servings of nutritious pork for families in need.  Henry's Heroes items will also be included in the Foundation's Little Free Pantries that will be established this summer across rural Iowa.  About the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation The Hansens, who founded Iowa Select Farms and New Modern Concepts in Iowa Falls, Iowa, established the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation in 2006 to relieve hunger, support military families and strengthen efforts to find a cure for childhood cancer while improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their families. About Iowa Select Farms Iowa Select Farms is the largest pork producer in Iowa and is committed to responsibly producing safe, nutritious, and high-quality pork for their customers and the food companies they serve. The company has 242,000 sows and annually produces 1.5B pounds of pork. With 800 swine farms across the state, Iowa Select Farms is one of the leading economic engines to Iowa's rural communities through employing more than 1,200 people, contracting with more than 650 farmers and supporting hundreds of local businesses throughout the state.