TULSA, Okla. (Dec.16) — In a show of industry leadership and community commitment, Seaboard Foods and the Oklahoma Pork Council (OPC) teamed up to donate more than 40,000 pounds of Prairie Fresh ground pork and sausage to the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma on Dec. 10. The donation was part of OPC’s annual Give-A-Ham Challenge, which rallies pork producers and food industry partners to help Oklahomans facing food insecurity.
“We are beyond grateful to Seaboard Foods and the Oklahoma Pork Council for their impact on fighting hunger in our state,” Jeff Marlow, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, said. “Food insecurity continues to impact over half a million Oklahomans each year. We are all better together and this tremendous donation helps us serve our community and make a significant and immediate difference in the lives of families and individuals in need.”
The week began with an 800-pound donation by Seaboard Foods to Loaves and Fish in Enid, Okla., followed by the 40,000-pound donation to Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, which provides food to more than 600 food pantries and feeding program partners in 24 counties throughout eastern Oklahoma. The donation equals about 160,000 servings. These contributions cap a year in which Seaboard Foods donated 82,000 pounds of pork to local food banks and community organizations across the five states where the company operates.
On Dec. 11, Seaboard Foods and OPC served 300 free hot community meals in Bristow, Okla.
“Each year, the Oklahoma Pork Council is proud to lead the Give-A-Ham campaign, which sparks generosity across our state as Oklahoma pork producers, neighbors, and communities come together to feed one another,” Kylee Deniz, Oklahoma Pork Council executive director, said. “This incredibly generous bulk pork donation from Seaboard Foods, totaling 160,000 four-ounce servings, will help feed individuals and families across the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s 24-county network. That level of impact is truly incredible, and we are so proud to be feeding Oklahomans alongside Seaboard Foods this holiday season and beyond.”
Seaboard Foods is committed to supporting communities where it operates and partnering with organizations that promote community well-being through nutrition.
“At Seaboard Foods, we believe food has the power to bring people together and strengthen communities. Supporting local food banks and organizations is one way we live out that commitment,” Chad Groves, Seaboard Foods president and CEO, said. “By sharing wholesome Prairie Fresh pork with our neighbors in need, we’re not just providing meals, we’re helping create moments of connection and care across the communities where we live and work.”
Share your pay-it-forward story on social media using #GiveAHam and #OklahomaPork, or by visiting okpork.org/giveaham to commit to giving this holiday season.
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