Indiana Pork donates $5,000 worth of ground pork to Clay County Emergency Food Pantry

Friday, September 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM

By Staff report

Indiana Pork is helping fight hunger in Clay County with a donation of $5,000 worth of ground pork to the Clay County Emergency Food Pantry. This contribution will provide thousands of protein-rich meals for local families facing food insecurity.

“Indiana’s pig farmers care deeply about their communities and are committed to giving back,” said Chad Martin, Director of Strategic Outreach at Indiana Pork. “We know how important access to nutritious, high-quality protein is, and we are proud to support the Clay County Emergency Food Pantry in serving families who need a helping hand.”

This donation is a celebration of the 10-year anniversary of Indiana Pork's Certified Indiana Bred program. Indiana Pork awarded the top performing participants in the Skillathon series by placing those names on a spinning wheel during the Grand Drive at the Indiana State Fair. Sydney Lowdermilk of Clay County was the lucky winner of $5000 worth of ground pork to donate to a food pantry of her choosing. "It feels good to be able to give back to the community that gave so much to me," said Lowdermilk. "I know there are so many people in need and I'm grateful I can help them a little."

Ground pork is a versatile, nutrient-dense protein that can be used in many family-friendly meals, from spaghetti to tacos to casseroles. The donation is part of Indiana Pork’s ongoing multi-faceted effort to address food insecurity across the state by working with Feeding Indiana's Hungry statewide food pantries, smaller local pantries, and other hunger relief organizations.

“We are so grateful for this generous donation,” said Mike Robinson, Executive Director of the Clay County Emergency Food Pantry. “Protein is one of the most requested items at our pantry and this gift will ensure our clients have a good meal to serve their own families.”

The Clay County Food Pantry is open 7 days a week and donates over 54,000 lbs. a year to the 3,300 families they serve. The ground pork donation from Indiana Pork will add 2,300 lbs. of ground pork, providing 9,200 meals to the guests of the food pantry.