Greene County Pork Producers Donate Over 500 Pounds of Protein to Local Food Pantry

The donation comes at a crucial time for the pantry as it prepares for an expected increase in demand.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:25pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration of multiple pork chops in a repeating grid pattern, representing the donation of protein-rich foods to the local community.A donation of over 500 pounds of pork products from local producers helps nourish families in need at the Greene County food pantry.Jefferson Today

The Greene County Pork Producers recently donated close to 570 pounds of pork products, including sliced pork loin, pork chops, and ground pork, to the Greene County Action Resource Center (ARC) food pantry in Jefferson, Iowa. The donation was made through the Pork in the Pantry Program with the Iowa Pork Association, which provided a matching grant. The food pantry says the donation comes at a key time, as they have seen a recent increase in demand for their services.

Why it matters

Food insecurity is an ongoing issue in many communities, and donations of protein-rich foods like pork can make a significant difference for local food pantries and the families they serve. The Greene County Pork Producers' donation helps ensure the ARC food pantry can continue providing nutritious options to residents in need.

The details

The Greene County Pork Producers donated 250 pounds of sliced pork loin, 240 eight-ounce pork chops, and 200 pounds of ground pork to the ARC food pantry. The donation was made possible through the Pork in the Pantry Program, where the Iowa Pork Association provided a matching grant to the local pork producers' organization. ARC Manager Shirley Haupert says the donation comes at a crucial time, as the pantry has seen a recent surge in demand, with weekly family visits increasing from around 35 to as high as 65-70 in recent months.

  • The Greene County Pork Producers made the donation in March 2026.
  • The ARC food pantry has seen increased demand in recent months, with weekly family visits rising from around 35 to as high as 65-70 in December.

The players

Greene County Pork Producers

A local organization of pork producers in Greene County, Iowa, that participates in the Pork in the Pantry Program to donate pork products to the community food pantry.

Alyssa Juergensen

A board member of the Greene County Pork Producers who spoke about the importance of the organization's donation to the local food pantry.

Shirley Haupert

The manager of the Greene County Action Resource Center (ARC) food pantry, which received the donation of pork products from the Greene County Pork Producers.

Iowa Pork Association (IPA)

The state organization that provides matching grants to local pork producers' groups through the Pork in the Pantry Program to facilitate donations of pork products to community food pantries.

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What they’re saying

“We enjoy being a part of it, and want to give back to the community, and promote pork in any way that we can. So we are yet again participating in this program this year. And we're hoping that this provides the citizens of Greene County the option to stop in and pick up some delicious pork and provide their families with protein.”

— Alyssa Juergensen, Board member, Greene County Pork Producers

“March is typically a little bit slower time, which is our average time of about 35 families a week. Back in December, we had upwards of 65-70 families a week. So yeah, we're a little bit slower, but it's going to pick up here in another month or so when school starts getting ready to let out (for the summer) and we're going to be back up to probably 50-60 families a week.”

— Shirley Haupert, Manager, Greene County Action Resource Center (ARC) food pantry

What’s next

The Greene County Pork Producers plan to continue participating in the Pork in the Pantry Program with the Iowa Pork Association to make regular donations of pork products to the ARC food pantry.

The takeaway

This donation highlights the important role that local agricultural organizations can play in supporting their communities by providing nutritious food to families in need. The partnership between the Greene County Pork Producers and the ARC food pantry demonstrates the power of collaboration to address food insecurity.