INDIANAPOLIS – Inflation may be making the task greater for hog farmers nationwide to donate enough hams and other pork products to feed the hungry this time of year.

The annual “Give-a-Ham” challenge by the National Pork Producers Council has kicked off nationwide. On Nov. 16, Indiana Pork donated nearly 400 large hams to Gleaners Food Bank in Indianapolis, where requests for assistance have gone up significantly at the pantries they serve in 21 counties in the central and southern areas of the state.

Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler were among the dignitaries on hand when the donation was made at the food bank.

Jeanette Merritt, a spokesperson for Indiana Pork, said the donated hams were given away at the food bank’s drive-thru window to people waiting one hour or more in a line of vehicles a half mile long or more.

“It was very eye opening to see how great the need still is. It doesn’t look like it’s going away,” she said.

Brian Martin, president of the Indiana Pork board of directors, said the greater strain on food budgets caused by higher prices and lingering effects of COVID-19 has given the challenge this year more of a “special meaning. Giving back to our communities is a core value of hog farmers nationwide. It’s gratifying to come together as an industry this time of year to serve those in need.”

Pig farmers and others involved in the pork industry across the country are encouraged through social media to donate to organizations serving people with food insecurities. From there, the challenge works its way down to members of the general public, asked to give to neighbors and other individuals who may not know where to for their next meal.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, for example, answered the challenge from Crouch to donate a ham. Fred Glass, CEO and president of Gleaners Food Bank, accepted the ham from the governor and challenged Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to donate a ham to someone in need.

Participants can share their donation stories on social media using the #GiveAHam and #Poundsofham.

National Pork Board President Heather Hill, an Indiana hog farmer near Greenfield, called food insecurity a big issue even among children in households struggling to put enough food on tables. “Many of those are people that we know,” she said.

Katie DeForest, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry fund development director, said her organization near Fort Wayne has received 30 percent more requests for meat from food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the state.

So far, DeForest said all of the needs have been met but she wonders how long depleted supplies will last without donations of meat coming in at a quicker pace. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to keep it up,” she said.

The La Porte Salvation Army reported a 60 percent increase in requests for food boxes at Christmas in the community it serves about 20 miles south of Lake Michigan.

“Times are getting more difficult and those needing assistance are increasing,” said Major Charles Pinkston. Pinkston, who previously worked at Salvation Army branches in other states, said any increase in the need for food and toys from the previous year, typically, is in the single digits.

“We usually see slight increases from year to year but nothing like the increase here this year,” he said.