Filling Plates, Hearts and Dreams

Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation Continues to Support Iowans through Unique Programs

In 2024, the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation reached new heights! $2,639,832 was donated across our three pillars—providing critical food and essentials to struggling Iowans, recognizing our veterans, reservists, active duty and military families and improving the quality of life for children and families experiencing childhood cancer.

An average of 5 ½ programs reached each of Iowa's 99 counties.

From 16,304 coupons for active military members through our Pork Care Package program, to 800 surprise care packages to Children's Cancer Connection families to 26,000 pork loins given away at our Operation Christmas Meal events in December, the Foundation was hard at work throughout 2024. Follow along to learn about all of the ways the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation supports Iowans.

Fighting Childhood Hunger Powerfully



For 12 years, school districts in Iowa Select Farms's Homegrown Iowa communities have partnered with the Foundation to distribute Power Snack coupons to children on Free and Reduced Lunch.

Each participating student receives coupons for four pounds of free deli ham and four loaves of whole wheat bread annually. Students receive a coupon booklet with a $8 ham coupon and a $3 whole wheat bread coupon four times per year to coincide with the long breaks in the school year.

The Power Snack program is crucial as school-based food assistance programs address immediate nutritional needs during school days, yet food insecurity often persists during weekends and holiday breaks.

In total, 106,050 coupons and 25,000 pork sticks were distributed to 84 school districts for the 2024-2025 school year. The Power Snack program provided 25,666 students with the means to make 1,272,600 ham sandwiches.

Stocking Freezers, Feeding Families



Every summer, the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation is proud to support food pantries by hand-delivering frozen pork to stock freezers with a fresh protein source for the summer months through Haul Out Hunger.

This year, the decision was made to offer a new product to food pantries— ground pork. This change was made with recipients in mind. Ground pork is versatile, easy and fast to prepare, and compatible with many food pantry staples. The change also allowed pantries to receive more individual portions of meat, which in turn allowed the food pantries to distribute the pork to more families.

Alongside the pork, recipe books with affordable and easy-to-prepare ideas were distributed to each pantry to inspire meals. In 2024, teams delivered 34,440 pounds of ground pork over 14 delivery days in June and July. The pork was delivered to 105 food pantries, a 38% increase from 2023. The pantries were spread across 41 counties and were located in 78 different communities. The pork distributed through Haul Out Hunger in 2024 created 137,760 meals for Iowans in need.

Pork Loins Fill Hearts and Stomachs



To celebrate the holiday season, the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation puts on Operation Christmas Meal, a beloved tradition for the organization and its employees since 2011.

There are no requirements to receive a pork loin at an Operation Christmas Meal event. Recipients drive through the line and pick up a loin for themselves or someone in their life who needs a good meal.

In 2024, over 500 employee volunteers handed out 26,000 pork loins at Operation Christmas Meal events in Des Moines, Bedford, Diagonal, Afton, Osceola, Jewell, Fort Dodge, Sac City, Denison, New Sharon, Washington, Sioux Rapids, Laurens, West Bend, Gilmore City, Eagle Grove, Hampton, Sheffield, Garner, Osage, Greene, Allison, Ackley and Iowa Falls.

Over the past 14 years, over 4.5 million pounds of pork have been given away at Operation Christmas Meal events in 56 communities.

Igniting the Spirit of Giving



Youth-based organizations, including FFA and 4-H clubs across Iowa, participate in Ignite the Spirit each December, which runs alongside Operation Christmas Meal.

Participating groups receive four cases of pork loins, insulated grocery totes, recipe booklets and a monetary grant of $500 to purchase additional meal staples at their local grocery stores.

In 2024, a record 101 student organizations in 47 counties participated in Ignite the Spirit. Of the participants, 45 were FFA chapters, 36 were 4-H Clubs, 15 were other school groups, including FCCLA, Student Council, and Special Education classrooms, and five were outside-of-school organizations, including Boy Scouts and church groups. Participation in Ignite the Spirit increased by 38% compared to 2023. 

Uplifting Dreams of Iowa’s Most Vulnerable



Henry’s Heroes is an ever-evolving program that supports Iowa children. From providing STEM carts to local libraries, donating toy boxes to daycares, or equipping law enforcement with comfort kits to provide support to children during crisis calls, the program annually adapts with a new initiative.

In 2024, the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation created 500 Henry’s Heroes Dream Kits for children living in or passing through domestic and sexual assault shelters. The kits included a wheeled tote, a large quilt, a pillow, a plush pig stuffed animal, and basic hygiene essentials, including hair brushes, shampoo and conditioner, toothbrushes, children’s pain medication, combs, and a coloring kit to spark imagination and creativity.

The Dream Kits were distributed to six shelters and advocacy centers that service 52 Iowa counties. The centers then distributed the Dream Kits to children who came through their doors. In many cases, children leave unsafe situations suddenly, and these bags of essential supplies have helped children maintain some continued normalcy during difficult transitional times.

Pork and Supplies to Celebrate Veterans Day



The Pork for Patriots program connects the Iowa military community with resources for successful Veterans Day celebrations and appreciation events. Born as a sub-program to Project: Food and Fellowship in 2023, Pork for Patriots fills a gap that the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation saw in resources for military organizations looking to celebrate local veterans in November.

Each organization was offered up to 48 boneless pork loins and an event kit complete with placemats, cups, napkins, centerpieces, posters, aprons and t-shirts. In total, 6,396 pork loins were distributed in late October to allow event coordinators ample time to plan and prepare for their November events. In 2024, 160 organizations received pork loins and event kits for their Veterans Day celebrations and events, a 45% increase in participation from the inaugural year.

Supporting Soldiers and Strengthening Our Military Community



The Pork Care Package program reminds us that service and dedication to our country are valued and respected, and it acts as a thank you to all who currently serve in Iowa.

Iowa Select Farms employees distribute coupons to active and reserve armed forces members across Iowa each year. Members receive a gift containing $40 worth of coupons for various pork products, including fresh pork, ground pork, ribs and bacon. Through this program, the Foundation provides military families the means to prepare many meals that bring comfort and joy to their homes. In 2024, Iowa Select Farms employees delivered 16,304 Pork Care Packages to those serving in the military.

Supporting Fellowship in Iowa's Military Communities



Designed to create memorable and enriching social experiences for Iowa military families, the Project: Food and Fellowship program offers micro-grants for military and veteran organizations seeking financial support. 

Organizations can apply for funds to help cover the cost of food for their social gatherings for active duty, reservists, veterans, Gold Star families and all military families in Iowa. In 2024, 55 organizations received funding from the Project: Food and Fellowship program. Over $50,000 was rewarded throughout the year.

Honoring and Remembering Those Who Have Made the Ultimate Sacrifice



To honor Gold Star families each year, the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation sends a custom gift to each Iowa Gold Star Family to remember and honor their fallen family member.

In 2024, employees selected a suncatcher ornament to be sent to the 600 Gold Star families in Iowa.

Intended to be hung on the tree at Christmas time or in a window year-round, the suncatcher ornament was selected to help keep the families’ loved one’s memories alive in their homes during the holidays and every day.

Recognizing and Honoring Iowa Veterans



The Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation launched the My Veteran Hero program in 2022 to thank and recognize veterans across Iowa for their sacrifice and willingness to answer the call to serve our country.

Every day since its launch, Iowans have nominated veterans in their own lives to receive a custom apparel item, choosing between T-shirts, crewneck sweatshirts, and full-zip hoodies. Iowa Select Farms employees then package the apparel each week and ship it directly to the veterans’ homes with a note identifying the nominator.

In 2024, 2,501 veterans were recognized—a 29% increase from 2023. Since the start of the program, 5,176 veterans have received apparel items. The veterans who received an item in 2024 live in all corners of the state, as 91 of Iowa’s 99 counties had at least one veteran who received a sweatshirt or T-shirt in 2024.

Nurturing Hope and Healing



For 11 years, the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation has been the largest benefactor of Children’s Cancer Connection’s My Journey Series®. The program is pivotal in directly supporting patients and families at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines and the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City.

The My Journey Series is a family lifeline, delivering crucial resources such as educational materials, comfort tools, and a bereavement program. In 2024, 80 families were welcomed into the Children’s Cancer Connection community through family boxes.

The Beads4Bravery® program enables children to collect beads that symbolize each medical step of their unique experience. In 2024, 27,505 beads were sent to Blank Children’s Hospital and Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

The Courage Store®, empowers children facing childhood cancer during challenging treatments. Children earn Bravery Bucks® for their courage and resilience during hospital treatments. They can redeem these hard-earned coupons for fun prizes at the Courage Store®. Nine Star Boxes were also shipped to families, providing comfort to those who have lost a child to cancer.

Fostering Memories and Creating Joy



In 2024, the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation shipped two unique gift boxes to over 400 families' doorsteps.

The first package came in the summer—an ode to the 4th of July, with outdoor toys including water balloons, bubbles, chalk, and a rocket sprinkler attachment, along with popsicle molds, festive sunglasses and necklaces, and a craft for families to do together.

Later in the year, families were surprised with a Halloween "Boo Basket" with fidget toys, candy, bouncy balls, a Halloween Squishmallow, and other things that children typically receive when going trick-or-treating. These care packages are built to bring families together, create memories and bring joy to children who are either personally experiencing cancer or watching a sibling go through the challenge.

Making Cherished Memories through Special Adventures



Experiencing childhood cancer can impact families in many unthinkable ways, robbing them of the joys that healthy children typically experience during their formative years. For many, time is spent in doctor’s offices and hospitals instead of on the playground or at home.

The Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation is proud to continue to offer the “A Special Adventure” program to Children’s Cancer Connection families. This program offers families a unique all-inclusive weekend getaway, fostering quality time together and creating memories for impacted families. In 2024, 27 families were granted the opportunity to choose from four Iowa-based weekend trips spanning from Memorial Day through October. Options included trips to the Iowa State Fair, Honey Creek Resort in Moravia, Iowa, a “Capital City Adventure” in Des Moines, and a Central Iowa trip for various fall activities, including Center Grove Orchard in Cambridge, Iowa. In total, 73 children and 52 parents could partake in a weekend of relaxation and memory-making through A Special Adventure.

About the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation



The Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation, established in 2006 by the owners of Iowa Select Farms, is dedicated to making a positive impact on Iowans' lives.

The Foundation operates unique programs and projects that provide food to struggling Iowan families, show gratitude to members of the armed forces and strengthen efforts to find a cure for childhood cancers while improving the quality of life for impacted families.

Giving back is in the hearts of farmers, pork produced and Iowans, and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation is proud to be a part of keeping Iowa's communities strong.