WEST DES MOINES – 160 Iowa veteran-based organizations are preparing to host Veterans Day celebrations with the support of Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation. Eligible veterans’ organizations, community groups and nonprofits received pork loins and supplies on Oct. 25, 2024 for Veterans Day community events.
The pork loins and event kits help communities celebrate and honor veterans in their area, spanning 65 Iowa counties and 115 communities. Encompassing the 160 organizations are 63 American Legions, 27 Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations, 17 Elks Lodges, 14 County Veteran Affairs Offices, 11 AMVETS and 28 other veteran-based groups.
This is the second year that pork loins and supplies have been offered. Each organization was offered 48 boneless pork loins and an event kit complete with placemats, cups, napkins, centerpieces, posters, aprons and t-shirts. On average, the kits will feed 960 people.
Building on the success of 2023, 84 new organizations requested supplies this year, demonstrating a 45% increase in participation from the program’s inaugural year. In a survey of participants, 41 reported planning a brand new event due to the offer. Over 75% reported that their current programming would be significantly enhanced.
“The Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation believes in the power of food to bring people together in celebration, and we are excited to see our programming spur more communities to host events,†said Laura Noehren, Foundation Program Manager. “We hope that through the Pork for Patriots offering, veterans across the state will be honored this Veterans Day and every day.â€
Pork for Patriots is just one of the foundation’s programs devoted to supporting and honoring Iowa veterans and military families. The foundation offers micro-grants through Project Food and Fellowship, outfits veterans through the My Veteran Hero program, delivers Pork Care Package coupons to active military members, sends annual gifts to Gold Star families and sponsors of the Veterans Day parade at the Iowa State Fair.
