New initiative provides critical infrastructure support to new food pantries in rural Iowa working to address food insecurity in their communities
Media Contact:
Laura Noehren
(641) 316-3293
lnoehren@iowaselect.com
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (July 14, 2026) – The Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation and Iowa Select Farms are proud to announce the launch of Freeze Out Hunger, a new program designed to support new food pantries in rural Iowa by providing freezers to help establish the infrastructure needed to expand food access in their communities. The first freezer through the program has been delivered to the Humeston-Garden Grove Food Pantry in Garden Grove, Iowa.
Freeze Out Hunger is a sister program to the Foundation’s flagship Haul Out Hunger initiative, which delivers ground pork to food pantries each summer. While Haul Out Hunger helps provide a consistent source of protein to communities across Iowa, Freeze Out Hunger focuses on equipping new food pantries with the resources necessary to safely store and distribute a wider variety of nutritious foods. Freezer capacity allows food pantries to accept and provide perishable items, including proteins, breads, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and other frozen foods.
“New food pantries are often created because communities recognize a need, but establishing the infrastructure to serve families effectively can be a significant challenge,” said Laura Noehren, Foundation Program Manager for the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation. “Through Freeze Out Hunger, we are helping new food pantries in rural Iowa communities build a strong foundation from the beginning. A freezer may seem like a simple piece of equipment, but it provides an important resource that allows pantries to offer more nutritious food options and better serve their neighbors.”
The Humeston-Garden Grove Food Pantry officially opened its doors in March 2026 and is already serving 70 families each month. Operated entirely through donations, the pantry relies on community support to meet the significant needs of the families it serves.
“The addition of this new freezer is a game changer for our operations. It allows us to safely store and distribute high-quality food, ensuring that the families we serve have access to nutritious meals,” said Amy Peplinski, Chairperson of the Humeston-Garden Grove Food Pantry. “This donation provides a critical foundation for our infrastructure, allowing us to expand our capacity for frozen food. The impact of this equipment on our ability to combat food insecurity in our community cannot be overstated.”
The Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation is committed to supporting communities across Iowa by investing in programs that strengthen food security and improve access to nutritious food. Through Freeze Out Hunger, the Foundation will continue partnering with new food pantries in rural Iowa to help them build the capacity needed to serve their Homegrown Iowa communities for years to come.
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About the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation
The Hansens, who founded Iowa Select Farms and New Modern Concepts in Iowa Falls, Iowa, established the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation in 2006 to relieve hunger, support military families and strengthen efforts to find a cure for childhood cancer while improving the quality of life for cancer patients. Learn more at iowaselect.com/foundation.
About Iowa Select Farms
Iowa Select Farms is the largest pork producer in Iowa and is committed to responsibly producing safe, nutritious and high-quality pork for their customers and the food companies they serve. The company has 242,000 sows and annually produces more than one billion pounds of pork. With 800 swine farms across the state, Iowa Select Farms is one of the leading economic engines to Iowa’s rural communities through employing more than 1,200 people, contracting with more than 650 farmers and supporting hundreds of local businesses throughout the state.
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