Iowa Pork, Fareway, and Local Leaders Plan to Feed Nearly 500 People at Iowa Shelters for Giving Tuesday

If you've been following my writing for the last several years you already know I grew up on a hog farm outside of Monticello, Iowa, where I also happened to work at my local Fareway. In that regard, I was happy to see the latest press release from the Iowa Pork Producers Association regarding a certain Giving Tuesday "Flipping for Good" event, which just so happens tomorrow (Tuesday, December 2nd) in several locations across Iowa.

This year marks the ninth annual event, and it’s shaping up to be bigger than ever. Local leaders, state legislators, city council members, Fareway team members, and folks from the Iowa Pork Producers Association will gather at Central Iowa Shelter & Services in Des Moines to cook and serve a hearty breakfast meal to adults experiencing homelessness. Meanwhile, meals will also be served at The Bridge Home in Ames and the Empowerment Command Center in Grinnell.

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The effort isn’t just about feeding people; it’s about community, generosity, and shining a light on the ongoing issue of food insecurity. Approximately 450 people are expected to be served across these three locations, and thanks to generous donations from my old employer Fareway, the menu is nothing short of comforting. We're talking bacon, sausage patties, eggs, pancakes, hashbrowns, cinnamon raisin bread, fruit, hot drinks, and bottled water. Just how much, you ask?

• 1,200 slices of bacon
• 50 lbs. of sausage patties
• 132 lbs. of eggs
• 1,050 pancakes
• 48 packages of hashbrowns
• 85 loaves of cinnamon raisin bread
• 200 lbs. of oranges
• 200 lbs. of apples
• 12 cans of coffee
• 750 packets of hot cocoa
• 500 individual servings of orange juice
• 500 individual servings of milk
• 500 bottled waters

The Iowa Pork Producers Association is also giving out hundreds of backpacks filled with stocking hats, socks, and pork sticks to keep folks warm and fed.

For those in our Dubuque-land area, you don’t have to travel to Des Moines to make a difference. Local shelters and food banks are always looking for volunteers and donations, especially during the holiday season. Even small contributions can go a long way to brighten someone’s day and help meet a basic need in your own community.

For me, this event hits close to home. Growing up in the Midwest, I learned early on that taking care of your neighbors isn’t just a nice idea, it’s what keeps communities strong. I remember my dad using his skid loader to move snow for neighbors trapped on our gravel road. He still does it today. Yesterday my neighbor Mike saved my back and hours of shoveling with his snowblower. Whatever it may be, Giving Tuesday is a reminder that even small actions, can make a big difference in someone’s life. When it's cold outside, it’s heartwarming to see so many people come together for a good cause. And one that makes me proud to call Iowa home.