Iowa’s military service members will have a little more on their plates this holiday season thanks to an unprecedented donation of coupons good for free pork from the Deb & Jeff Hansen Foundation and Iowa Select Farms.
Every Iowa service member is receiving $28 worth of coupons good for various pork products, including ribs and bacon, through their unit readiness coordinators. In total, more than 10,800 active duty and reserve service members will be receiving the coupons, totaling $302,400 in free pork.
“Providing support to military families in Iowa is the least we can do for those on active duty and those who dedicate their time to civilian duty and the reserves,” said Jeff Hansen, president and CEO of Iowa Select Farms. “Supplying the resources for a home-cooked meal that brings their families together is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the men and women who sacrifice so much of their time away from their families in order to protect our freedom.”
From ribs to bacon to fresh pork, the coupon packets are redeemable at any local grocery store and provide for many meals worth of product, no matter the brand or cut.
“I’m humbled and proud to be a recipient of this gift,” says SFC Larry Hingtgen, a member of Delta Company 1/133rd Infantry. “I know that I speak for most of the men and women in uniform all over the state in saying that this is hugely appreciated. From bacon breakfasts, to our holiday gatherings and tailgating, this is a practical and hugely helpful gift. The thoughtfulness of Iowans never ceases to amaze me.”
The foundation also is working on distributing the coupon packets to ROTC programs across the state. The coupons offer a great opportunity for service members to sit down with their families to share a meal during over the holidays. In addition to the coupon donations, the foundation also will continue the popular Hams for Heroes Program, which delivers fresh pork packs and smoked hams to select units and families.
The Hansen’s, who founded Iowa Select Farms and New Modern Concepts in Iowa Falls, established the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation in 2006 to work with philanthropic organizations 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.
Iowa Select Farms, based in Iowa Falls, is Iowa’s largest pork producer with nearly 1,000 employees and 345 producers in Iowa.
Source: IowaPork