Submitted photo Nancy Arndt of Christensen Farms presents a chek to Brad Kirk, New Ulm Area Emergency Food Bank Executive Director, as part of Christensen Farm’s donations to food programs throughout the Midwest.

NEW ULM. – During the week of December 17, Christensen Farms, one of the largest family-owned pork producers in the country, donated a total of $20,000 to food banks across the Midwest. The organization collaborated with local food banks in 15 communities in which it operates, to provide pork certificates to those in need, which included a donation to the New Ulm Area Emergency Food Shelf.

“At Christensen Farms, we are proud to serve the noble purpose of providing safe, nutritious pork to families across the country,” said Amber Portner, Christensen Farms Communications Manager. “It is our hope that this donation will help provide families in the communities we operate, a delicious pork meal this holiday season, including right here in New Ulm.”

Headquartered outside of Sleepy Eye, Christensen Farms has pork production, feed mill and truck wash operations located across South Central Minnesota. In this region, they employ over 250 people and manage contract partnerships with local farmers, who all help to support and achieve the mission of Christensen Farms.

“For many families in the Midwest and throughout the country, putting food on the table can be a daily challenge,” said Brad Kirk, New Ulm Area Emergency Food Bank Executive Director. “Providing a key source of protein is not just a daily luxury, it is essential. We are grateful for the generosity of organizations like Christensen Farms, who look for ways to give back and help their neighbors – especially during the holidays.”

In addition to the donation of pork, Christensen Farms’ Employee Resource Group, Women LEAPP, held a food drive at their headquarters to collect donations to go directly to the New Ulm Emergency Food Shelf to also support their day-to-day operations. CF representative, Nancy Arndt, proudly delivered both donations.

The following communities and food banks received pork vouchers from Christensen Farms this holiday season: Sleepy Eye Area Food Shelf, Sleepy Eye, Minn.; New Ulm Area Emergency Food Shelf, New Ulm, Minn.; Kitchen Table-Marshall Food Shelf, Marshall, Minn.; Redwood Area Food Shelf, Redwood Falls, Minn.; Manna Food Pantry, Worthington, Minn.; Neighborhood Food Bank, Forest City, Iowa; Emmet County Food Pantry, Estherville, Iowa; Franklin County Community Food Pantry, Hampton, Iowa; Charleston Food Pantry, Charleston, Ill.; Central Northeast Community Food Bank, O’Neill, NE; Northeast Nebraska Action Partnership – Creighton Family Services, Creighton, NE; Safe Harbor, Aberdeen, SD; Tri-County Good Samaritan Center, Redfield, SD; and Pierre Food Pantry, Pierre, S.D.