DES MOINES, Iowa — The Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation and Iowa Select Farms are giving away 26,000 pork tenderloins this Christmas season to families in need as a part of Operation Christmas Meal.

The effort kicked off Friday morning when 5,000 pork tenderloins were given away at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Kelly Sweeney, the HR Director at Iowa Select Farms, said that partnering with the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation to give away free pork tenderloins is important to support hungry Iowans.

“We know that one in nine Iowans are food insecure, and so it’s important that we are helping in our communities and where we’re located to give back,” Sweeney said.

Operation Christmas Meal will continue over the next seven days. To find out the communities where pork tenderloins are being given away, visit the Iowa Select Farms website.