SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Dierdre McMahon Boone, the new executive director of Feeding Illinois, said she is appreciative of Illinois Pork Producers Association’s (IPPA) Pork Power program, which recently donated 101,000 pounds of ground pork to food banks through her organization.

“Protein is one of the most requested and hardest-to-source items at food banks, which is what makes the Pork Power program so meaningful. From the grain farmers who donate at harvest to the hog farmers, local processors and our seven-member food banks, this program is Illinois agriculture taking care of Illinois families. Feeding Illinois is proud to partner with the Illinois Pork Producers Association,” said Boone, who took over for Steve Ericson at the helm of Feeding Illinois, a statewide association of food banks working to end hunger across Illinois, on Aug. 3.

“Together, with our match made possible by the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program, we invested nearly $240,000 last year to deliver more than 90,000 pounds of fresh pork statewide. We are grateful to IPPA for their commitment and look forward to growing this partnership.”

Every year just in time for the holidays, IPPA utilizes funds to donate ground pork to eight regional food banks in the state. Feeding Illinois matches IPPA’s gift with a monetary contribution, effectively doubling the amount of ground pork available for donation through the 2026 Pork Power program. Powered by farmer donations, 2026 producer hog donations amounted to more than 7,000 pounds of ground pork.

Boone also announced Feeding Illinois’ participation in the University of Illinois Extension’s Hunters Feeding Illinois program. The venison donation program, which is returning for a fifth year, connects hunters, meat processors and food pantries to bring lean protein to local residents and families. Through Extension’s collaboration with Feeding Illinois, donations to the program will be doubled dollar for dollar – a $50 donation becomes $100, which covers the processing of one deer.

During the 2025-2026 hunting season, Hunters Feeding Illinois distributed 40,712 pounds of ground venison to 43 food pantries across east-central and southern Illinois, according to Extension. Around 22 processing facilities across several Illinois counties have signed on for this year’s program, making the program more accessible than ever. 

According to her bio, Boone brings more than two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, resource development and hunger relief. She spent the formative years of her career at Feeding America and has since worked closely with organizations across the food banking network, including the West Suburban Community Pantry and, most recently, the Arizona Food Bank Network. 

To learn more about Feeding Illinois, visit www.feedingillinois.org. For more information about the Pork Power program, including how and where to donate, contact the IPPA office at (217) 529-3100. More information about Hunters Feeding Illinois, including how and where to donate a legally taken deer for processing, is available at go.illinois.edu/deerdonation