Pork For The Pantry Makes Annual Donation in Rockingham County!

Pork For The Pantry continues to support Rockingham County 4-H & FFA Youth Livestock programs and local food pantries with an additional 1,000 pounds of fresh pork products being donated on Tuesday, August 29th at Hope Distributed in Harrisonburg.

Pork For The Pantry is a local program of The Farm Ministry whose mission is to support the hard work of the local 4-H and FFA members who personally raise local market animals for sale and to donate high-quality meat products to local food pantries that will benefit those less fortunate in the Shenandoah Valley community.

In August of 2023 Pork For The Pantry partners Rockingham Cooperative, Delegate Chris Runion, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Farm Credit of the Virginia’s, Rockingham Petroleum, James River Equipment & Delegate Tony Wilt collectively purchased 7 market hogs at the Rockingham County Market Animal Show & Sale event, directly from 4-H & FFA youth livestock exhibitors. This pork has been processed into sausage and pork chops and will be donated in the morning on Tuesday, August 29th at Hope Distributed (1869 Boyers Road) in Harrisonburg to be distributed throughout Rockingham County to areas of greatest need. 988 pounds of fresh pork were donated through Hope Distributed on Tuesday, August 29th to serve the Harrisonburg and Rockingham communities this year. It was estimated by Hope Distributed staff that this contribution will help feed their clients for one month providing them with a necessary high-quality protein source.

"We’re extremely pleased to see so many of our community partners continually contribute each year to make Pork For The Pantry possible. The scope of our support is very unique and makes an impact in the lives of both 4-H/FFA youth livestock exhibitors and those less fortunate in our community." – Adam Ford, Marketing Manager at Rockingham Cooperative

Pork For The Pantry has partnered with over 20 local businesses and community organizations in since its inception in 2016, donating over $25,000 to support 4-H & FFA members in Rockingham, Augusta, & Highland Counties in their projects, which contributed to over 12,000 lbs of fresh pork product that was distributed to area food pantries in the communities the pork was raised.

Throughout its history the program has proudly sent fresh pork products to those in need in the Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Augusta, & Highland communities through partnerships with food pantries in those areas.