Receiving the Pork in the Pantry donation on behalf of Operation Threshold are Gerald Anderson and Brenda Thompson. Presenting the gift on behalf of Grundy Pork is Sarah Rickelman and Linda Frazer. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Grundy County Pork Producers donated 340 pounds of pork to four food pantries throughout the county.

This is the second year for the Pork in the Pantry program. It is sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association. One of the goals for the program is to have county organizations coordinate acquiring pork from local grocery stores and providing it to people in need through the local food pantries. Recipes were also included for people to try new dishes with their pork.

“Pig farmers care about our communities,” said Laura Hommel, chairman of Grundy Pork Producers. “We recognize the role of food pantries to provide people with nutritious and delicious food.”

Operation Threshold, serving Grundy County, received 50 pork loin roasts. The roasts will be part of Easter Dinner baskets distributed to families in the area. Also included in the baskets will be fresh produce, canned vegetables and desserts from the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. The pork was purchased from Brothers Market, Grundy Center.

The Comet Closet Food and Clothing Pantry, housed in Blue Collar Community Church in Conrad, will provide patrons 30 pounds of ground pork in one-pound packages. Brothers Market packaged the meat.

The Reinbeck Food Pantry, housed in the Union Congregational United Church of Christ, will hand out 50 pounds of ground pork and sausage packages to people. The meat was purchased from Truncks. The pantry serves about 20 households a month, including several older single people. Food pick up is available during mornings Monday through Friday.

The Dike Food Pantry is housed in the United Methodist Church, Dike. The Pork in the Pantry program purchased 25 pounds of sausage from Truncks for community members. The pantry serves around 8-10 families a month from Dike and New Hartford.